FOI request (FOIR-394774742)

Residential council-owned properties

Requested Thu 20 January 2022
Responded  Wed 26 January 2022

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request the following information from the council's housing department.

Please could I find out:

1. By how much is the council planning to increase rent on residential council-owned properties on April 1 2022?

2. By how much is the council planning to increase service charges on residential council-owned properties on April 1 2022?

3. By how much is the council planning to increase heating energy charges on residential council-owned properties on April 1 2022?

Response

1. There are no plans to increase the rent. The council has a stock of 4 residential properties, which are used as 'Housing First' accommodation. Most of the social housing stock in the borough is owned and managed by Private Registered Providers (housing associations), the two biggest ones are Optivo and Orbit.

2. We only charge affordable amounts of service charges in our Temporary Accommodation. This is based on the family size and income. In our 4 residential properties the tenants pay their own utility bills.

3. We have not been informed of any increases. Hastings Borough Council has very limited stock which is mainly used for Temporary Accommodation.