Housing Matters - April 2024
Wednesday, 3 April 2024
This is the latest edition of Housing Matters.
Rent Increase: let Universal Credit know about your new rent
Have you updated Universal Credit?
From Monday 1 April, all Universal Credit Claimants need to update Universal Credit via their journals with the 2024-2025 weekly rent.
As we can’t do it for you, it’s important that you let the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) know your rent change so they can raise your Universal Credit to cover the increase.
It’s also important to know that the DWP will not backdate past a month, so make sure you make the change during April 2024 or you risk falling into rent arrears.
If you have an online journal, log in to your Universal Credit account and click your ‘to-do’ list. From there, click on report changes to your housing costs, and update the rest, remembering:
- you can’t update your account until you have your rent increase letter
- you can’t update your Universal Credit account until after 1 April 2024
- housing costs changed on 1 April 2024
- you are charged weekly for your rent (and service charges where relevant)
- your rent increase letter will show you your new rent
If you manage your Universal Credit over the phone, you will need to call the DWP to let them know.
Upcoming dates to meet the Tenant Involvement and Engagement team
Have a housing query?
We have set up hubs where you can chat face-to-face with housing officers ranging from engagement and involvement, repairs, income management, neighbourhood management and tenancy support.
At some hubs we will also be joined by Bedfordshire Police and Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, as well as teams from within the Council including Public Health, Community Safety, Domestic Abuse and Active Streets.
The next drop-in sessions, where you can speak to a member of the team about our services and give your feedback, are:
- 9 April – 11am until 2pm: Neighbourhood Housing Action Day – Sandland Close and Union Street
- 16 April – 10am until midday: Housing Information Hub – Leighton Buzzard Library
- 23 April – 1pm until 3pm: Housing Information Hub – Dunstable Library
- 24 April – 12:30pm until 2:20pm: Housing Community Hub – Meadow Way Community Centre
If you would like to get involved in focus groups or find out about upcoming engagement sessions, follow us on Facebook, check the website, or email: involvementandengagement@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.
Do you know about the changes in benefits?
If you live in Central Bedfordshire and still receive benefits like Job Seekers Allowance or Income Support, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will contact you about switching to Universal Credit. They started sending letters in February 2024, and this will continue until 2028 as part of the managed migration process.
When you get the DWP letter, you'll have three months to apply for Universal Credit. To avoid any gaps in your benefits, make sure to apply before the deadline.
The benefits affected include:
- Income-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Child and Working Tax Credits
- Housing Benefit
Don't apply too early, as it might mean you miss out on benefit protection while waiting for your new claim, leaving you without income for a while. Wait for the official invite to claim from DWP to avoid any issues. Read any DWP correspondence you receive very carefully to stay on top of what is required and when.
For more info, visit the DWP website: Universal Credit if you receive a Migration Notice letter - GOV.UK
Or call the Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline at 0800 169 0328.
If you can't hear or speak on the phone, use Relay UK at 18001 followed by 0800 169 0328. British Sign Language (BSL) users can use the video relay service on mobile or tablet by watching the instructional video.
The helpline is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. 0800 phone numbers are free to call from both mobiles and landlines.>
RSH sets new standards to drive improvements in social housing
On 29 February 2024 the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) set out its new standards for social housing landlords, including us. The standards are designed to protect tenants and improve the service they receive. RSH has also confirmed how it will regulate landlords against these standards.
The changes, which are a result of the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023, come into effect from 1 April 2024 and will apply to all social landlords, including councils and housing associations.
As a social housing provider, we will be subject to four yearly inspections by the Regulator, who will grade us based on how well we are meeting the requirements of the new consumer standards.
The new standards ensure we will continue to:
- ensure our tenants are safe in their homes
- listen to our tenants’ complaints and respond promptly to put things right
- be accountable to our tenants and treat them with fairness and respect
- know more about the condition of every home and the needs of the people who live in them
- collect and use data effectively across a range of areas, including repairs
We will also adhere to the five consumer standards as listed below:
- The Safety and Quality Standard
- The Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard
- The Neighbourhood and Community Standard
- The Tenancy Standard
Consumer standards as above (applies from 1 April 2024)
- Tenant Satisfaction Measures Standard – reporting against the TSMs, which cover information on areas such as repairs, safety checks and complaints (applies from 1 April 2023).
We are already subject to the Rent Standard, and once finalised, the Competence and Conduct standard will be added to the standards that we are measured against.
The Regulatory Reforms Project Team will be presenting an overview of what this means to us at April’s Housing Live Link. Alternatively, if you would like to find out more about the key changes, visit GOV.UK - eshaping consumer regulation: Our new approach.