Tenant rent and service charges

Rent and service charges affect every household, but they are not always easy to understand or challenge. This is the time of year when many tenants are notified about changes to their bills, so this session is here to help you understand your rights and what those changes should look like.

We’ll explain how social housing rents are set, including the rules and limits landlords must follow, what they are allowed to charge for, and what information you have a right to see. We’ll also look at recent government announcements on rent convergence — which allow some landlords to gradually move rents toward the official formula level — what this could mean in practice, and how increases must still stay within national rent caps and regulatory standards.

We’ll cover what your landlord is responsible for, how changes should be explained and consulted on, and the main routes you can use if you think a charge is wrong or unfair, including complaints and formal challenges. We’ll also discuss what tenants can and should do if they are worried about paying their rent — including speaking to landlords early, checking benefit entitlement, and getting independent advice — as early action can prevent arrears escalating.

We’ll hear from speakers sharing examples of good practice — showing how things work when charges are clear, transparent and well-managed, and when tenants are properly involved. The session will be practical, grounded in rights, and shaped by real experiences, with time for questions and discussion.

Session is open to all social housing residents. Closed captions will be enabled.

Please note that to receive the link to join the session, as well as all relevant documents, you need to “Book a place” using the link below. Just adding it to your calendar is not enough.