To ask if there are any Social Housing experts out there?

[T3mporarynameforthis]

I'd be grateful for some advice about DS' rent. He has been living in rented social housing since Jan 2018, recently had a rent review and was advised that his rent was going down.

Then he was offered a 5-year contract starting from May. This should have happened on the anniversary of his moving-in date, but was delayed, seemingly in error.

DS has now been told that his rent for the new contract will be higher than his original amount, because the date of the new contract is into the new financial year.

When he queried this based on his most recent rent assessment, he was told that he should have been offered the contract sooner, but because he wasn't, there is nothing that can be done.

Can anyone advise if it's possible to challenge some of this?
It seems that DS is expected to pay for someone else's mistake. And if he were to challenge it, is it with the council or the housing association?

Any advice or suggestions very much appreciated, thanks in advance.
PS - I've NC so that I can share this thread with DS.

Hi Op

There will be many variables that come into play here - so for example is your DS living in England (law is different elsewhere). But on the face of it...

In 2016 the government directed that social housing rents should be reduced by 1% each year for four years. There are some exceptions to this (types of social housing property).

His tenancy starting in January 2018 should have included the 1% reduction and his next rent review should also have included the following years 1% reduction. Unless the type of property he lives in is exempt from the rent reduction - you can find the list here
www.gov.uk/guidance/welfare-reform-and-work-act-2016-social-rent-reduction#how-the-reduction-applies

The new five year contract would still have annual rent reviews and the rent reduction applies through to 2020. Has he moved into a different property at all?

Without knowing the precise details its not possible to completely advise but if your DS is in England, doesn't live in an exempt form of accommodation then I'd be asking (or getting him to ask) his Housing Officer if the 1% reduction has been applied and what form the rent review took?

Sorry! Should also have added a point about rent plus service charges (and the rules are different as to whether it is a social rent or an "affordable rent" - these are technically different whilst annoyingly vague to anyone not immersed in the vagaries of social housing policy. Does your DS have a "social rent" or an "affordable rent" and is he being charged any service charges?

Thanksmyrtle - that's interesting.

DS is in England, the first tenant in a new build property, which is I think, social housing, rather than affordable rent, but I will check with him. As far as I know, he isn't paying any service charges.

It's the only property he has lived in since leaving home and isn't covered by any of the exceptions on the list you linked to.

I will suggest that he talks to his housing officer as you advise, and ask if the 1% has been applied.

Thank you so much for your help and the linked information.