Rent Information

We have several ways to make paying your rent as easy as possible:

Direct Debit

Direct debit is a cost effective and trouble free way of paying rent from your bank account. You can now pay on any day of the month, making rent payments more convenient for you.

Download the form here and email or post it back to us.

My Account App

You can pay your rent anytime and anywhere via our app.

24 Hour Automated Payment Line

Have your 10 digit rent/garage reference number and a debit/credit card available then call our 24 hour automated payment line on 0300 303 0309. 

If you need to speak to someone you can contact us during office hours.

Rent Payment Card

You can pay with cash, debit card or cheque at any Payzone or Post Office using your rent payment card.

If you want to pay at a Payzone or the Post Office but don’t have or lost your rent payment card card call contact us and we can order you a new one. 

Benefits & Universal Credit

If you need any help, support or advice contact our Rent Support Team.

Annual rent increase information was sent to all customers in the post from in February 2023. Please read the letter and contact us if you have any questions. If you have not received this letter please call us on 0300 303 9848.

Rent Increase April 2023

From April 2023 rents will go up by 7%. We want to explain the reasons behind this increase. Normally, annual rent rises match the rate of inflation of the previous September (plus 1%). Due to the high rates of inflation we are seeing and cost of living pressures, Government set out that rents could be increased by a maximum of 7% this year.

As with all costs, the Trust has seen substantial increases in the costs of labour and materials, which means that delivering our services is now more expensive. To safeguard our key services and to ensure we continue to invest in existing homes, the Trusts Board has taken the difficult decision to increase rents by 7%, to offset the significant increased costs we have already, and will continue to experience during the year ahead.

We would urge anyone with concerns about rent payments to contact our Rent Support Team on 0300 303 9848. The team are experts and are here to support all customers. You can also read about our Support Team services here.

Rent and service charges

The Trust’s Board has approved the annual increase in your rent and service charge (if applicable), with effect from 3rd April 2023 by 7%. If your property has been designated as affordable rent (rent set based on 80% of a comparable market rent) your rent will change by no more than the 7% rent cap, this ensures your rent remains affordable and does not exceed 80% of a comparable market rent.

Your 'dwelling tenancy' agreement gives you full details about your rent, service charges and any other charges. This section gives some background as to how rent and service charges are set and reviewed annually.

The rent we charge

The rent we charge you covers the use and occupation of your home. The rent we collect is used to pay for the cost of managing and repairing your home together with cyclical such as gas servicing and major improvements to homes. We also provide a range of additional services, such as teams that can help you with money concerns, helping to find work, keeping open spaces clean and tidy. For more information about these services visit our for tenants page on this website. 

How your rent is calculated

All housing associations and councils have a formula for calculating rents set by the Government. This means rents are set equitably, reflecting the size, condition and location of a property and local earnings, regardless of who the landlord is.

Every property has a target rent and the formula is based on the following factors:

• 30% of the rent is based on local property values in comparison with national averages
• 70% of the rent is based on county average manual earnings compared to national averages
• The average council and/or housing association rent level in the area
• Number of bedrooms and a tolerance of plus or minus 5% (10% for housing for older people).The Trust uses a tolerance of plus 5%.

All new lettings will have rent set at the target rent level. However, your current rent may be different to the target rent for your home.

Rents on properties not covered by target rents

The rents on some of our properties are worked out in a different way to that described above:

• Our Affordable Rent properties have their rents set by up to 80% of the equivalent market rent. Check your tenancy agreement to see if this applies to you.
• Shared ownership properties have their rent set in line with lease agreements

Service Charges

When you receive a service that is in addition to occupying your home then there will be a service charge to pay. They cover a wide range of services including: a lift in a block of flats, a door entry system, grounds maintenance, cleaning of communal areas, window cleaning, caretaking services and many more.

We will charge all new customers for all services they receive and these will be listed in your tenancy agreement. However, if your tenancy started before 2002 you may not be charged for any or all the services you receive.

Service charges will be calculated by us by using a fair proportion of the costs incurred or likely to be incurred in the delivery of the service. The charges will be fixed (meaning that they may not be reviewed annually) or variable (they will be reviewed annually), dependent on the circumstances of the charge.

Fixed service charges will be increased, at the same time as rents, by no more than CPI, for the previous September, plus 1%. Variable service charges will be increased or decreased following the review of annual expenditure.

More information on how your rents are set and increased can be found here.

Homes Contents Insurance 

If you are a member of the Home Contents Insurance scheme, the charge is not changing, and it is not included in the amounts in the rent increase letter. Not in our Home Contents Insurance scheme? You can find more information here.

Your rent statement has changed. You'll receive a new look rent statement in the post once per year (at the end of March). If you are registered for our Rent & Repairs App, My Account, you won't receive a paper rent statement. You can view your rent balance information all year round. 

You can check your rent balance at any time by registering for our FREE My Account Rent and Repairs App, click here for more information

Our Income Team are available to talk to you, assisting and advising on any rent and benefit queries you might have. Call them on 0300 303 9848 or email rentfirst@wvht.co.uk.