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How much will rents be increased by and from when?

North Star rents will increase by 7.7% starting from Monday 1st April 2024.

Why has my rent gone up?

As a Housing Association we follow Government Guidance and Regulation when we review rents. We are allowed to increase rents by a maximum of, the rate of inflation for September plus 1%. Inflation in September 2023 was at 6.7%.

We know tenants are facing challenges with the increase in fuel, food and household bills and changes to the benefit system taking place.

North Star has also seen cost increases in a number of areas. The cost of delivering maintenance, planned maintenance and developing new homes has increased between 10-18%. This is a result of rising cost of materials, supplies and labour.

We are making further investment in the safety and servicing of our properties. We will also be making more money available to support tenants and communities. Focusing on the future, we’re investing in the energy efficiency of our properties to meet Government targets to cut carbon emissions.

We need to ensure we have enough income so that we can continue to develop and deliver services to all our customers. As well as increasing the rent we continue to make efficiencies where we can.

However, increasing the rent is one of the ways we’re able to cover our costs and ensure North Star continues to be a strong and responsible landlord.

How is my rent decided?

Rent levels for social housing are guided by the Government. This means North Star must set its rents in line with the Rent Standard and the policy statement on rents for social housing.

As a Housing Association we follow Government Guidance and Regulation when we review rents. We are allowed to increase rents by a maximum of, the rate of inflation for September plus 1%. Inflation in September 2023 was at 6.7%.

What does North Star do with the rental income?

North Star is a not-for-profit charitable housing association, but that doesn’t mean we don’t work hard to be efficient. We care about the people and communities we serve and each year we aim to generate a financial surplus.

We do this to invest back into the organisation, to deliver our social purpose and strategic objectives. We call this our surplus for purpose.

It’s a priority for us to ensure our existing homes are safe, warm and well maintained and during the next year we will complete around 11,000 repairs. We’ve budgeted £3.8million to complete planned maintenance works to customer’s homes, including replacing kitchens, bathrooms and heating systems. Next year’s budget includes £0.7m to complete energy efficiency improvement works at our properties and assumes a further £1.4m will be spent on health & safety and servicing works. Our strategy to continue to develop new homes will see us invest £13.7m, building 75 new homes for rent during 2023/24.

Our Annual Report  includes information on how North Star invests to develop and maintain homes and communities.

What about service charges?

Service charges are not governed by the same formula as rents. Any charges we make for services are based on the actual cost of providing the service. Details of any service charges applicable to your home are detailed in your rent increase letter.

How is North Star supporting people?

Our priority is to support tenants to sustain their tenancy. If you’re concerned about money or having difficulty paying your rent we want to hear from you as soon as possible. Your Housing Officer is on hand to provide you with support to pay your rent. Our Welfare Benefit Team can provide you with guidance and advice on maximising your income and claiming benefits. In addition to the investment North Star is making to support tenants, it is also possible for us to connect you to specialist services and grants you may be able to access to meet the cost of energy for example.

For further advice or to make an appointment with a Welfare Benefit Officer:

You can access independent money advice with:


What do I need to do if I pay by:
 

Universal Credit

You must login and update your rent amount on your Universal Credit Journal before the end of your April assessment period or you will miss out on money you are due.

Housing Benefit

We will inform your council of any change in your rent and so the amount of Housing Benefit you receive will be automatically amended.

Direct Debit

We will amend the Direct Debit payment amount to reflect your new rent. You will receive a confirmation of the new Direct Debit from our payment provider ‘Allpay’.

Standing Order

You will need to contact your bank and update the standing order amount to reflect the new rent from April 2024.

Paypoint Card

You will need to adjust the payments you make to cover the rent amount.