Every year, at the beginning of April, the amount of rent you pay will change.
We'll send you a letter in February with details of what this means for you. Further information and answers to frequently asked questions can be found below.
If you can't find what you need, please get in touch.
What you'll need to do
If you pay your rent by Direct Debit, you don't need to do anything about the annual rent increase.
We’ll update your Direct Debit to match your new rent and service charges. You'll receive a notification direct from allpay – please check the details are correct.
You’ll need to contact your bank to update how much you pay based on your new rent and service charges.
If you need any help with this, please get in touch.
You’ll need to update the journal in your Universal Credit account, so the Department for Work and Pensions can adjust your payments.
If you don’t update your account, they will continue to pay the previous rent amount.
How to update your Universal Credit account:
- Log in at www.gov.uk/sign-in-universal-credit
- Click on the ‘To-do list’ tab
- Select ‘Confirm your housing costs’ and enter the new rent amount. You should have received a letter from us detailing the updated charges for your home
- Check your journal: to confirm the update
- Don’t use the ‘Report a change of circumstances' tab.
Important: Please complete this update on or within a day or two of your rent increase date, to ensure your payment is adjusted accurately.
Updates can take up to 28 days because of the large number of people needing to do this.
If you’re unsure about the new charges or need help, please get in touch and we can confirm the details for you.
You’ll need to tell your local council about the new rent and service charges for your home.
If you receive partial Housing Benefit, which doesn’t cover the full rent amount, you’ll need to make up the difference using another payment method. Please contact your housing officer to discuss this extra amount.
You can choose to have your Housing Benefit paid directly to us. Contact your housing officer to find out more.
Rent increase for April 2026
We review all tenants' rents every year in line with the Government’s rent setting framework, using an agreed formula, which is the same for all housing associations across England.
This allows rents to increase inflation (as measured by the Consumer Price Index, CPI, from the previous September), plus 1%.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for September 2025 was 3.8%. Therefore the increase applied to your rent for April 2026 - March 2027 is 4.8%.
When will I find out what my new rent and service charges will be?
You will receive a letter from us early February, which will confirm what your new rent and service charges (if applicable) are.
If you have not heard from us by end of February, please call us on 0300 1234 009 or email enquiries@midlandsrural.org.uk
When will the new charges start?
The new charges will apply from 6 April 2026.
CPI is a commonly used measure of inflation.
It measures changes in the prices of goods and the cost of living, such as household goods, food and transport.
Because there are slightly more than 52 weeks in a calendar year, and to incorporate a leap year, we calculate your monthly rent as follows:
Your weekly rent x 52.18 divided by 12 months
i.e. £100 x 52.18 divided by 12 months = £434.83
This is why your universal credit or housing benefit payments are slightly different if you pay monthly rather than four weekly.
As a profit-for-purpose association, we invest every penny we collect from rent into providing good-quality homes and services.
Each year’s increase provides cost-of-living support for households, plus planned maintenance to invest in your home for the future.
We have to balance keeping rents as low as possible, while making sure we can fund essential maintenance and continue to improve the quality, safety and energy efficiency of customers' homes.
A service charge is an amount you pay towards the costs of services and repairs in communal areas.
This charge is in addition to your rent and is based on a mix of actual costs and estimates of future spending.
Help with your rent
If you're finding it difficult to manage your rent increase, please get in touch. We're here to help.
There are lots of free services available online and in your community.
Please see our Cost of Living Guide and support pages for more information and advice to help you manage your money and make sure you receive all the benefits you’re entitled to.
If you need further help, please talk to your housing officer.
We offer several ways to pay your rent.
If you have have questions, or you think your new rent figure is wrong, please talk to us and we’ll try to find a way forward.
If you don't accept the proposed new rent and wish to dispute the change, you can appeal to a First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber).
Are you a shared owner?
Rent is calculated differently for shared owners
Find out more about shared owners rent