Rent and Service Charges 2021-2022 Consultation
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Rent and Service Charges
2021-2022
ConsultationRent and Service Charges 2021-2022
Overview
Overview
The City of Wolverhampton Council’s (CWC) Housing Services are For the financial year 2021-2022 an increase of 1.5% will be proposed to Cabinet in
required to undertake an annual review of its rent and service January 2021.
charges.
The impact of the rent increase is detailed in the table below:
In February 2019 the government confirmed that it will resume the
policy to increase rents by consumer price index (CPI) plus 1% CWC Social Average Rent 1.5% Average
from 1 April 2020 for five years. Rent 2020-2021 (CPI plus weekly
1%) increase
For the financial year 2020-2021 a 2.7% increase was approved, 1 Bedroom £68.54 £69.57 £1.03
this increase allowed us to build more Council homes and make
improvements to housing quality by helping to fund the projects 2 Bedroom £76.62 £77.77 £1.15
set out below:
3 Bedroom £87.18 £88.49 £1.31
• A pitched re-roofing programme.
All Properties £79.08 £80.27 £1.19
• A re-roofing programme converting flat roofs to pitch roofs.
• Year 2 of the Heath Town refurbishment project.
• Year 2 of the programme to improve high-rise flats including This increase would allow the Council to maximise investment in new build Council
improving fire safety and renewing services in tower blocks housing and improve housing quality and the safety of homes.
(electric and water supplies). It also includes installing sprinkler
systems.
• Improving the decency of homes as they become empty as well
as homes used for temporary accommodation.
• Delivering over 50 new build council homes.Rent and Service Charges 2021-2022
Overview
For 2021-2022 our priorities will include: Why did we consult?
• Repairs - continue to improve our repairs and maintenance service. As part of Council’s commitment to involving tenants and other service users in the
• Customer experience - enabling customers to deal with us easily and management of housing services, City of Wolverhampton Council invited views
ensure that they are listened to through a variety of channels. from tenants and leaseholders in respect of rent and service charges and the
• Community focused - being more visible out in the Council’s priorities for 2021-2022.
neighbourhoods. As we move towards more digital channels with
The Consultation
more customers using services online, we want to ensure that that
we’re more visible in the community too. The Estate Custodian
The consultation was in the form of a short survey inviting views on two areas, the
approach allows us to go to the customer rather than they having to
Council’s priorities for 2021-2022 and value for money for rent paid.
come to us.
• Smart working - developing digital platforms and a new website that Priorities
will provide ease of access and speed in responding to calls.
• Helping communities to stay safe and secure. • Do you agree with the Council’s priorities for 2021-2022? - Yes/No
• Keep neighbourhoods clean and tidy.
• Planned maintenance, investment and improvements to homes - • Do you agree with the Council’s priorities for 2021-2022? - If no, please add any
responsive repairs, planned repairs, improvements and adaptations; comments.
asbestos and fire reviews - materials used, and specifications.
• Supporting the City Housing Strategy to provide more homes. Value for money
• Wrap around services - supporting the challenges Universal Credit
poses; welfare benefits and money advice. • Do you feel the amount of rent you pay offers value for money? - Yes/No
• Making improvements to aids and adaptions - quicker and easier for
people with a disability to have access to what is needed. • Do you feel the amount of rent you pay offers value for money? - If no, please
• Working to make the city a more environmentally friendly city. add any comments.Rent and Service Charges 2021-2022
Priorities, Question 1
Do you agree with the priorities for 2021-2022? Yes/No
Yes No
70% 30%
Count %
Yes 249 70
No 109 30
Totals 358 100Rent and Service Charges 2021-2022
Priorities, Question 2
If no, please add any comments:
• 104 out of 109 respondents who answered no left comments.
• Some respondents noted multiple priorities within their comments.
• All comments were reviewed and grouped into themes.
Some priorities were
Repairs clear and specific and
have been grouped as Financial
Fencing follows on the left.
Condition
Roofs and Guttering
However, many Health and Safety
Parking
comments were Communication / Customer Service
Windows and Doors generalised and have
been grouped under Allocations Policy
Investing in Existing Stock one of the following
themes to the right.Rent and Service Charges 2021-2022
Priorities, Question 2
Respondent priorities:
Note: Percentages are based on number of respondents who answered no and
commented. The total of all percentages will exceed 100 due to respondents giving
multiple answers.Rent and Service Charges 2021-2022
Priorities, Question 2 – Top 5 Themes
1 2 3 4 5
Repairs Financial Condition Communication/ Security
Customer Service
Respondents comments have This theme groups together This theme groups together This theme groups together
shown that improvement where respondents have where respondents have This theme groups together comments specifically noting
regarding repairs is a priority commented on finances, commented on the condition of comments regard health and safety along with
for them, with the most including but not limited to: their property communication and customer not limited to: ASB, security,
frequent comments below: financial struggles, support, (internal/external) and/or service, most frequently were Mental Health, Adaptations,
charges (rent/service/utilities) communal areas and/or the noted were: Disabilities.
• Not being done or part and affordability. estate they live on.
done • General comments to 40% of respondents who
• Poor quality 85% of comments were 47% of respondent comments improve communication and commented on health and
• Long waiting times generally about financial on condition were referring the customer service safety referred to ASB within
• Not being prioritised struggles estate they live on, some were their estate
general comments and some • Improve digital platforms,
17% of respondents who felt 15% were much specific more specific should as but also still give an option if 27% of respondents noted
repairs should be prioritised relating to rent, service charges cleanliness. the customer doesn’t wish security concerns
also noted poor communication and lack of financial support to use these.
and/or customer service 16% commented on the
experience. 29% who commented on internal condition of their
finances also noted the current property
14% of respondents who felt pandemic as part of the reason
repairs should be prioritised 16% commented on the
noted that they are aware 2020 61% felt there should NOT be a external (Inc. garden)
as been a difficult period for rent increase and/or rents
everyone which may have should be reduced. 16% commented on the
resulted in issues and longer condition of shared/communal
waiting times. areasRent and Service Charges 2021-2022
Priorities, Question 2
Other Themes: Other notable comments:
• COVID-19
Allocations Policy
The impact of the pandemic was
This is where comments have been made in respect of the Allocations Policy, these comments have mentioned on 14% of all respondent
involved improving or reviewing: comments in addition to their specific
Waiting times priorities noted.
Bedroom criteria
• Climate change
Bidding process
• Homelessness
• Increase stock
Windows and • Bin / waste collections
Parking Roofs and Investing in Doors
Fencing
Guttering existing stock Improvements to
Improvement to General need for
parking in areas Roof Improvement to doors and
improved fencing
with restricted replacement current windows due to
or a fencing
parking and programme and properties rather draughts, damp
programme on
older properties regular cleaning than building which also as
their estate.
that don’t have of guttering. new properties. knock-on affect
driveways. on heating bills.Rent and Service Charges 2021-2022
Value for Money, Question 1
Do you feel the amount of rent you pay offers value for money? Yes/No
Yes No
61% 39%
Count %
Yes 218 61
No 140 39
Totals 358 100Rent and Service Charges 2021-2022
Value for Money, Question 2
If no, please add any comments:
• 119 out of 140 respondents who answered no left comments.
• Some respondents noted more than one reason why they felt rent paid was not value for money.
• All comments have been reviewed and grouped based on the same themes used for question 1.
1 Repairs 32%
2 Financial 26%
3 Heating 20%
4 Condition 17%
Top 5 Windows & Doors 12%
Themes 6 Health and Safety 11%
= 7th Roof & Guttering 7%
= 7th General Improvements 7%
8 Property Size 5%
9 Parking 4%
Note: Percentages are based on number of respondents who
answered no and commented. The total of all percentages will
exceed 100 due to respondents giving multiple answers.Rent and Service Charges 2021-2022
Value for Money, Question 2 – Top 5 Themes
1 2 3 4 5
Repairs Financial Heating Condition Windows & Doors
Respondents comments have This theme groups together This theme groups together This theme groups together This theme groups together
shown that improvement where respondents have comments regarding heating at where respondents have comments specifically windows
regarding repairs is required commented on finances, their property: commented on the condition of and doors as a reason the felt
before they feel like rent paid including but not limited to: their property rent paid was not value for
will offer value for money, financial struggles, support, • 54% of comments regarding (internal/external) and/or money.
respondents biggest concerns charges (rent/service/utilities) heating were general communal areas and/or the
were: and affordability. comments and did not cover estate they live on. Generally there were more
a specific area. comments on windows, with
• Not being done or part • 74% of comments were 40% of respondent comments 86% of respondents
done – this was by far the generally about the rent Below are where respondents on condition were referring the mentioning windows within
biggest concern with 50% being too high and gave specific issues regarding communal or shared areas, their comments with general
of those respondents who respondents also noting heating at their property. with most comments being in quality an draughts being the
commented on repairs comparisons with similar or respect of the cleanliness. biggest issues. The key points
pinpointing this as the bigger properties with • Damp and Mould (17%) are listed below:
reason. smaller rents. 30% commented on the
• Insulation - poor or none internal condition of their Doors:
• Poor quality (18%) • Services charges (10%) (8%) property • General quality
• Broken – including jammed,
• Long waiting times (16%) • Financial Support (10%) • Radiators – poor quality or 15% commented on the stuck, leaking, draughts
need replacing (8%) external (Inc. garden) • Not secure
• Having to get work done • Bedroom Tax (6%)
themselves to bring their • Boiler – not working or poor 15% commented on the estate Windows:
home to decent standard quality (8%) they live on • Broken – including vents,
seals, jammed and draughts
• Only done if an emergency • Quality (including age)Rent and Service Charges 2021-2022
Value for Money, Question 2
Other Themes:
Health and Safety
This is where comments have been made in respect of the Heath and Safety, the two main themes
noted within this group were:
ASB
Security
General comments were also made in respect of the general condition of respondents properties or
quality of work done which caused concern.
General
Improvements Other notable
Roofs and Parking comments
Comments have
been made Guttering Property Size Improvement to Plumbing
regarding the Roof Too small, lack of communal Allocations Policy
need for general maintenance and space and parking areas
improvements regular cleaning storage. including lighting Covid-19
and maintenance of guttering. and security. Bin/waste
to be carried out collection
more regularly.You can also read
