East Suffolk Council
Annual Rent Review
East Suffolk Council’s Annual Rent Review 2025/2026
Every year, East Suffolk Council carries out a review of the rent we charge our tenants in line with rules set by central government.
This year’s 2.7% percent increase is set in line with the rent cap implemented by central government.
Why is the rent increasing?
Annual increases to the rent we charge help us to keep up with the cost of inflation and allow us to continue to invest in our homes and communities by providing essential services, such as;
- The repair and maintenance of our council homes, communal areas and communities
- The upgrading of kitchens, bathrooms and electrical wiring in our homes
- Building more council homes.
How will I know if my rent is increasing?
You should have received your rent notice at the beginning of March letting you know what the weekly rent for your tenancy will be from 7 April 2025.
If you have service charges applied to your tenancy, our letter will also confirm what these will be from 7 April 2025. Service charges are calculated differently to your rent and increases or decreases are a reflection of the cost paid by the Council for the services received and usage where utilities such as heating and water are included.
Rent free weeks
In 2025/2026 East Suffolk Council will charge rent over a 50-week period giving you 2 ‘rent free’ weeks in the year when no rent will be charged. These are weeks commencing 22 December 2025 and 29 December 2025.
Whilst we do not charge rent on these weeks, if you pay your rent monthly or you are in rent arrears, it is important that you make your regular full payment for these dates.
If you are receipt of Universal Credit (UC)
You will need to update your UC journal with the increase in rent to ensure that you are receiving the help you are entitled to.
In April, the DWP will send you a ‘Confirm your housing costs’ ‘to-do’ on your UC Journal. You must complete this ‘to-do’ to report annual rent charges, even if there is no change.
Please DO NOT update your housing costs before 7April 2025 to avoid there being any problems and delays with your payments.
If you receive Housing Benefit
You do not need to do anything. We have given your new rent charge to the benefits team at Anglia Revenue Partnership (ARP) who will recalculate your housing benefit entitlement using your new charges and will notify you of any change to your benefit.
If you pay by monthly Direct Debit
You do not need to do anything. We have calculated your new monthly amount and you will receive a direct debit amendment letter from us confirming the new debit amount from 7 April 2025.
If you pay using any other payment method
Please adjust your payments to reflect the new rent charge from 7 April 2025.
If you pay your rent monthly, you can calculate the monthly amount by using the following calculation:
Weekly charge (including service charges); multiply by 50 weeks; divide by 12 months
If you ‘top up’ your Housing Costs/ Housing Benefit
To prevent you from falling behind, please continue to make your regular payments until you receive notification of your new benefit amount. Should you need any help to calculate what your new payment will be, please contact your Income Officer. Find contact details for your Income Officer: Use our Housing Officer directory to find the Housing or Rent Officer for your road
Are you struggling to pay your rent?
If you are a Council tenant and are struggling to afford your rent, we have dedicated Income Officers ready to help. Use our Housing Officer directory to find the Housing or Rent Officer for your road.
Our Financial Inclusion Officer is also on hand to offer advice and support with income and benefitsand can be contacted on 01502 523578.
You can also get free and independent advice from the following organisations:
- Citizens Advice Bureau - telephone: 0808 223 1133
- Turn2us – To understand what benefit you may be entitled to receive
- National Debtline - telephone: 0800 8084000
- Consumer Credit Counselling Services (CCCS) - telephone: 0800 0279595