We recognise that this is a financially difficult time for everyone and our increase is below the current rate of inflation.
Our rent increase this year is 6.5% from April 2023 in line with Welsh Government Policy.
We have also used our rent policy to work out what you should pay. You will see an increase of up to £2 per week over the 6.5% if you are below the target rent, and if you are above target rent you will see a decrease of up to 87p per week. These levels are set to ensure the effect on Bron Afon’s finances is neutral and to help ensure the long term financial sustainability of the organisation.
Our rent policy aims to be: simple, fair, easy to understand and follows Welsh Government rules. The policy calculates rent based on the number of bedrooms, the type of property and if it is in North or South Torfaen. This has helped us to decide the rent that you should be paying.
We are not moving all customers to this amount of rent straight away, instead we are phasing in the changes over several years. As rents currently vary between the same types of property, we will be doing it in the same fair way over time.
You can find more ways on how we offer support in our Self Help Guides.
I claim Universal Credit, what do I need to do?
If you are claiming Universal Credit it is your responsibility to notify the DWP of the rent increase. This can be done by reporting a change of circumstances on your online universal credit account. You can only do this when the new rent amounts are charged from April 3rd 2023. You should remember to only include eligible charges.
An eligible charge is a charge that can be included in Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit. For example the rent charge and any communal charges that make up your total rent due. A charge that is personal to you such as your water charge or personal gas and electric charge, is not an eligible charge.
How much will my Direct Debit be from April 2023?
This will depend on lots of things, such as whether or not Housing Benefit or Universal Credit pay some of your rent directly to us or if you are paying off a debt with us.
Allpay, our Direct Debit provider will contact you at least five working days before your new Direct Debit is due to be collected to confirm the new amount you will be paying.
If you pay your Direct Debit weekly, fortnightly, or four weekly then your payments will be lower in August and December to account for the rent-free weeks unless you have a debt with us. If you pay your Direct Debit monthly then your payments will be set at a lower level throughout the whole year instead.
When are the rent-free weeks in 2023?
Rent won’t be charged for the weeks starting Monday 28th August and 25th December 2023. If you are behind with your rent, you must use these weeks to catch up by continuing to make payments. If you would like to be first to know when we announce our Rent Free Weeks in 2024, please fill in your details below.
–
Do you need some help?
If you need a little help contact the Tenancy Support team and we can try to ease the pressure and support you with budgeting, benefits, form filling, debts, and getting into training.
You can make sure that you’re getting the right benefits or grants here:
https://benefits-calculator-2.turn2us.org.uk/
You can more ways on how we offer support in our Self Help Guides.
Submit Feedback
We also welcome you to take our feedback survey on our Rent Charges of 2023.