Annual Rent Setting Query for Social Housing

Summary

The request sought discussions regarding Local Authorities' ability to autonomously increase social housing rents beyond Departmental prescriptions over the last 12 months. The response disclosed a new policy effective April 2026 allowing providers to increase rents by an additional 1% without approval, alongside CPI-based minimum increases and historical consultation data.

Key Facts

• From April 2026, public sector housing rents will increase by a minimum of the preceding September's CPI figure.
• Local Authorities will have the discretion to increase rents by an additional 1% without Departmental approval starting April 2026.
• The Department retains the authority to intervene if rent rises are deemed unsustainable.
• A 2019 consultation revealed mixed opinions among Local Authorities, with several disagreeing with proposed policies.
• The deadline for declaring the planned rent increase for 2026/27 was set for 17th November 2025.

Data Disclosed

• CPI March 2.8%
• CPI April 2.3%
• CPI May 2.6%
• CPI September 2024 2.2%
• Annual increase 2.9%
• Rent point value 1.797 to 1.849
• Rent point value with uplift 1.867
• Administration allowance 7.0%
• Maintenance allowance 32.5%
• Community reserve 8.4%
• Date 27th October 2025
• Deadline 17th November 2025
• Stock numbers: Braddan 185, Douglas 2360, Ramsey 553, Onchan 508, Peel 357

Original Request

Please provide any and all discussion (emails/minutes of meetings/documents/letters etc) relating to the consideration of providing an option for Local Authorities to autonomously add an additional percentage increase to social housing rent from that proscribed by the Department.

The time frame for this FOI search would be the last 12 months.