A rent increase will apply from April 2026...

In line with government guidance, rents increase by September’s CPI + 1%. This year this works out to be 4.8%. 

If you pay service charges, these will also change in line with the cost of providing the services where you live. 

More information about how this is calculated and charged can be found at the bottom of this page. 

We will write to you with your rent and service charge amounts, including the frequency you must pay in February 2026.

Yes, service charges change each year to cover the cost of providing services for your building and estate.

We will inform customers of any changes to the amount due for service charges by the end of February 2026. 

You can find out more and watch a video about the way we calculate and apply service charges at: thrivehomes.org.uk/servicecharges

As products and services in the UK get more expensive, so do our costs. The increase in your rent is to make sure we can continue to provide the same level of services to your home that meet our standards as published in the Thrive Deal.

In 2024/25, we spent £5.2million on improving our homes. You can find out about the upgrades we have carried out over 2024/25 in our Annual Report for Tenants at: thrivehomes.org.uk/annualreport 

Even though our rents will increase by 4.8%, this is still lower than the rise in costs that we faced last year. Below are some examples: 

*Based on averages excluding VAT.  

This year we plan to continue fitting new kitchens, bathrooms, insulation and more to our homes.

With more rises expected, all upgrades are prioritised for homes that need it to stay safe and well maintained. That’s why we make every visit count and check on the status of your home during routine appointments. Every five years you will receive a Stock Condition Survey, which helps us plan and spend our money wisely. If we contact you with one of these appointments, please let us know if you need to change it.

We know it can be tricky finding time to be at home for multiple appointments, so we use all opportunities to see how things are going with you and your home. Read more here... 

Your rent is reviewed each 1st April in line with your shared ownership lease. The calculation in how your rent should be reviewed is set out in your lease and this is what we have used to calculate your new rent. 

A Section 13 notice is the legal notice we use to change rent for assured and periodic tenancies where this process is used.   

The notice shows rent only and does not increase variable service charges. Where service charges apply to your tenancy, you pay rent and service charges together as one weekly amount, so your total charge may change as the Section 13 applies to rent alone. Service charges remain payable under your tenancy agreement and are based on the cost of providing services.   

Rent convergence is a government policy that brings rents for similar social homes into line over time. If your rent is below the set formula rent, it will gradually increase to reach that level. 

The rent convergence will start in April 2027. Any increase will be CPI plus 1 percent, plus up to £1 per week, rising to up to £2 per week from April 2028, until the formula rent is reached, for up to 10 years. 

If you have a digital tenancy, then yes. Customers on digital tenancies must be four weeks in credit at all times and will be advised of this in their rent increase letter.  

Where your rent increases, and if applicable, we will arrange to collect a one-off payment from you in April 2026 to keep your account in four weeks credit of the new rent amount. The additional payment will be on top of your new rent amount.  

The one-off payment amount will depend on the amount of your rent increase.  

From May 2026 onward, your basic direct debit instalments will be for your new rent amount only.  

If you are in the process of buying more shares in your home and the staircasing does not complete by 1st April, you will still receive a rent increase on the rent that you currently pay. Once the staircasing is complete, your rent will immediately be reduced in line with the additional shares you have purchased and the new rent. 

Yes, it is important that you update your journal to inform Universal Credit of the new rent and service charge amount after 6th April 2026. Universal Credit cannot accept this information in advance. 

No. We can adjust your direct debit payment automatically, so there is nothing you need to do. Please refer to your rent increase letter for further information. Every time your Direct Debit is updated by Thrive, you will automatically receive a letter from Allpay notifying you of this change before it happens. 

We always give customers as much notice as possible about their charges and when payment is required. We partner with a number or organisations including Citizens Advice to provide money advice and support to our customers.  

Please contact us immediately if you are having difficulty managing your payments or need additional support and we will do all we can to help.  

For more money advice, head to: thrivehomes.org.uk/money-help 

There are times in all our lives when we might feel overwhelmed or find it difficult to cope. Speak to us or find out more at: www.thrivehomes.org.uk/wellbeing.  

Whatever the matter, we know someone who can help. We work with several organisations to provide support to our customers, such as: 

• Mental health support  
• Family support  
• Adult support needs  
• Domestic abuse advice and support  
• Young person support services  

Your rent increase is in line with government guidance therefore we cannot accept complaints about increases.  

Thrive Homes is committed to providing quality services that are fair to everyone. However, sometimes things can go wrong, and we need to know if your experience has fallen below our standards as set out in the Thrive Deal.    

If you would like to submit a complaint about the quality of services you have received, head to thrivehomes.org.uk/complaints or contact us in your usual way.  

Please tell us about issues as soon as they happen so we can put things right as soon as possible. If your complaint is about something that happened over 12 months ago, we may not be able to accept it. You can find out more about what is and isn’t considered a complaint on our website. 

Your total rent payments for the year will be split across 48 weeks.  

Here’s an example…  

Miss Tanner’s rent is £100 per week. As of 6th April 2026, her weekly rent amount will increase by 4.8% to £104.80 (excluding service charges).  

If you pay weekly, you will pay 48 weekly payments. If you pay monthly, your payments will be your weekly rent x 4, which will factor in the payment free weeks.  

Please note rent payments are due in advance as per your tenancy. 

Rent will be charged to your account for 52 weeks for the new financial year starting from Monday 7th April 2025.  

Here’s an example…  

Mr Smith’s rent is £100 per week. As of 6th April 2026, his weekly rent amount will increase by 4.8% to £104.80 (excluding service charges).  

If you pay weekly, you will pay 52 weekly payments. If you pay monthly, your payments will be calculated as your weekly rent x 52, divided by 12.  

Please note rent payments are due in advance as per your tenancy.