Rooftop Annual Rent Increase 2022

Annual Rent Increase

How we spend your money

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Message from Boris Worrall, Rooftop Group Chief Executive From April 2022 your rent will be increasing.

I felt that it was important to be open with you about the reasons why.

We know that bills are increasing and that is putting extra pressure on household budgets.

We are facing a 10%-15% rise in repairs and maintenance costs this year, which is partly due to labour and materials shortages.

We are also investing in the upgrade of homes and increasing electrical testing cycles, to keep you safe in your home. All of this means that our repairs costs this year will increase by about £1.7 Million.* In response to record contact volumes, we have also increased the number of staff in our repairs team, income team and we are expanding our Customer Experience Team to improve call-handling and customer service.

Finally, we have to spend about an extra £1m every year until 2030 to ensure that all of the homes we own and manage are at least Band C energy rating. This is to comply with Government guidance on climate change and ensure homes are warmer and cheaper to run.

All of these changes mean a total increase of costs this year of around £3.3 Million.*

*per proposed 2022/23 budget as of February 2022

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We have identified savings and reduced our overall staffing costs in real terms (below inflation), despite increasing the teams which directly deliver services to you.

Our independent survey tells us that 9 out of 10 customers who we spoke to feel that their rent is good value for money.

Our average rent, after this increase will be £108 a week.

Boris Worrall Rooftop Group Chief Executive boris.worrall@rooftopgroup.org @borisjworrall

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Frequently asked questions Do you have to increase my rent?

Yes we do.

This year we are facing a 10%-15% rise in repairs costs, which is partly because of labour and materials shortages.

We are also moving from a 10-year to a 5-year electrical testing cycle to keep you safe in your home. All of this means that our repairs costs this year will go up by about £1.7 Million.

To keep our service levels as high as you expect, and to meet record demand from the people living in our homes, there are now more people working in our repairs team. We have more people working in the rent team, and we are making our Customer Experience Team bigger. That will improve call-handling and customer service.

We must meet Government commitments to lower carbon emissions, and put more money into our homes. This will make them warmer, easier to heat, and cheaper to run. This means that we need to spend around an extra £1 Million every year until 2030. That money will make sure that all Rooftop homes are at least Band C energy rating.

All of these changes mean costs going up by around £3.3 Million this year.

This rent increase will bring in an extra £1.5 Million.

We will be taking on the other extra costs by saving money in other places in Rooftop.

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I claim Universal Credit: will I have to re-apply and will this result in weeks of delays in my rent being paid and accumulating rent arrears?

When we write to tell you of the new rent you will simply need to tell the DWP. You tell them using the DWP portal, after the rent increase has happened. It is important that you do this at the right time. Tell them too early and it will cause problems with your UC payments. You need to tell the DWP about your new rent using the DWP portal 1 April if you pay monthly. Tell the DWP about your new rent using the DWP portal 4 April if you pay any other way. We can then make sure it is on the Landlord Portal.

What if Universal Credit doesn’t cover the rent increase?

If your Universal Credit allowance doesn't go up to cover the extra rent there are many places that you can get advice. Our Money Advisors can help. They helped people who live in Rooftop homes claim an extra £3 Million in the financial year 21/22.

There is a list of people and places that can help you if you are having money problems on page 10 of this booklet.

What if I don’t claim universal credit but I do claim other benefits?

You could be £2500 a year better off if you claim Universal Credit. There is more information on page 9 of this booklet.

What do I do if I can’t afford the increase?

We want to prevent you from getting arrears. We want to stop rent arrears as much as you do. We have a special money advice team working with the rent team. The team are trained to make sure you have claimed all of your benefits. They can check that you are getting as much money as you can. The Money Advisors can help you manage your money and support you through changes in life.

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I pay a service charge, do the same increases apply?

We will only set service charges in line with our service charge policy. The policy is the way that we work with and set service charges. The policy says that “we will set charges appropriately to cover the cost of providing the service to you with no hidden charges”.

Will I see any benefits in my home and local community?

Yes. Rent is going up so that you will benefit both in your own home but also in your wider neighbourhood. We will now be able to do what we said we would do. We will put more money into your homes, services and neighbourhood.

Will I expect to see a higher level of service or something extra for the extra money?

You will continue to get our excellent level of customer service.

The people that live in Rooftop homes will benefit from us being able to deliver our promises in the Corporate Plan. The most important thing is that the extra rent means that we won’t have to cut services to you.

What if I refuse to pay?

You might be unhappy with your rent going up and you may consider refusing to pay. If you do not pay, it will make rent arrears build up. If arrears build up we will have to take action to get back the unpaid rent that is due.

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I claim Housing Benefit what do I need to do?

We will tell your Housing Benefit provider about your new rent. Only contact them if your circumstances have changed or you get your Housing Benefit paid straight to you.

I don’t claim benefits; do I have to adjust my Direct Debit with my bank?

Don’t worry, your Direct Debit will be changed automatically by our team – you don’t have to do anything. This change will be confirmed in writing.

What about my Standing Order?

If you pay your rent via a Standing Order you must change the amount with your bank. If you wish to set up a Direct Debit for future payments, please contact our Income Team.

Where can I get some money and budgeting advice?

We have a special money advice team working with the rent team. The team are trained to make sure you have claimed all of your benefits.

They can check that you are getting as much money as you can. The Money Advisors can help you manage your money and support you through changes in life.

We want you to use this service if you need it. To contact our Money Advisors email Money.Advice@rooftopgroup.org or telephone 01386 420800.

There is a list of people and places that can help you if you are having money problems on page 10 of this booklet.

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Better off on Universal Credit Universal Credit has been replacing and combining six benefits for working-age people who have a low household income: income-based Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, and Income Support; Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit; and Housing Benefit.

Many people who are eligible for Universal Credit, do not apply.

On the Rooftop website, on our Money Advice pages, www.rooftopgroup.org/money-advice you will find a Benefits Calculator which will help you find out if you are eligible.

Here are some examples of how You Could Be Better Off on UC

Someone who is working less than 16 hours, is a lone parent, and over 25 On legacy would receive £1360 per month On UC would receive £1610 per month

£250 per month or £3,000 per year better off on UC Someone in work and getting some help towards housing costs. Receiving Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit and Housing Benefit, with a wage of around £1200 per month On legacy would receive £1740 per month On UC would receive £1950 per month

£210 per month or £2,520 per year better off on UC Someone claiming Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) in the support group and not receiving SDP (Limited capability work related activity)

£100 per month or £1,200 per year better off on UC Someone who only claims Housing Benefit, in work, single over 25, working 25 hours per week On legacy would receive £1080 per month On UC would receive £1280 per month

£200 per month or £2,400 per year better off on UC Even if not claiming benefits now, you could have an entitlement.

www.gov.uk/universal-credit 0800 328 5644 9

Get help with your money Rooftop Housing Group has a team of dedicated Money Advisors who can help you claim the benefits that you could be entitled to, and help you take control of your money.

Our Money Advisors don't judge, they just help.

To get in contact call 01386 420800 email money.advice@rooftopgroup.org or talk to your Neighbourhood Officer.

These are other organisations that may be able to help - they have websites, just search for their name using your preferred search engine.

Worcestershire John Martins Charity (Evesham and some of WR11) 01386 765440 Wallace House Community Centre 01386 446580 Caring hands in the Vale 07749 377473 (12 noon - 2pm) or email info@chands.org Evesham Adventure Playground 01386 442154 Pershore United Charity c/o Pershore Town Hall, 34 High Street, Pershore WR10 1D Smallwood Trust (women's charity) 0300 365 1886 - info@smallwoodtrust.org.uk

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Gloucestershire Barnwood Trust - 01242 539935 Email: info@barnwoodtrust.org www.barnwoodtrust.org Gloucestershire Welfare Support Scheme - 0330 123 5550 Email: office@gloucWRO.co.uk

National Help

British Gas Energy Trust britishgasenergytrust.org.uk

Royal British Legion 0808 802 8080 or online chat using www.britishlegion.org.uk

Money Advice Service 0800 138 7777

SSAFA - 0800 260 6767

National Debtline 0808 808 4000

Trussell Trust Foodbanks 0808 2082138 find a food bank via www.trusselltrust.org

My Money Steps 0808 808 4000 StepChange Debt Charity 0800 138 1111

Severn Trent Trust Fund 0121 355 7766

Citizens Advice (national) - 0800 144 8848 South Worcestershire (Wychavon) Citizens Advice 3 Port Street, EVESHAM, Worcestershire, WR11 3LD Worcester CAB & WHABAC (Lowesmoor) The Old Glove Factory 13a Lowesmoor, WORCESTER, WR1 2RS Worcester CAB and WHABAC (Hopmarket) The Hopmarket, The Foregate, WORCESTER, Worcestershire, WR1 1DL South Worcestershire (Malvern Hills) Citizens Advice Bureau 52 Prospect Close, MALVERN, Worcestershire, WR14 2FD North and West Gloucestershire Citizens Advice Messenger House, 35 St Michaels Square, GLOUCESTER, GL1 1HX Citizens Advice Stroud & Cotswold Districts Limited Unit 8, 1st Floor Brunel Mall, London Road, STROUD, GL5 2BP

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Take control with the MyRooftop App and Portal MyRooftop is the new Rooftop Housing Group App and web Portal. With MyRooftop you can book repairs, see your rent balance and make payments, contact your Neighbourhood Officer, report ASB and more.

24 hours a day, and all without having to sit in a phone queue.

Once you have registered for MyRooftop app, you will be able to sign in to MyRooftop Portal too!

rent, repairs, reporting... in one place. MyRooftop