Kirklees Together

On Tuesday 2 December, Kirklees Council’s Cabinet approved the proposed increases to rent and service charges alongside a £390m five-year housing capital investment plan.

Rents will increase by 4.8% following, the national standards set out by Government.

The Government is also currently looking at changes to rent convergence – a process to calculate national standard rents – which could mean an extra weekly £2 rent increase on top of the 4.8% increase proposed in the cabinet report.

We intend to continue to recover the cost-of-service charges for grounds maintenance, as previously agree and Extra Care services will also be increased by 4.8%, if agreed by councillors.

What does this look like for households?

The proposed increases will come into effect from April 2026.

Here is an example of what the increase would look like for tenants, depending on the property they live in.

Alongside the statutory rent increase notice, tenants will be provided with information and contact details of the council’s Money Advice Team.

The specialist team works with tenants to support them in completing claims for benefits and signposting to other agencies for support.

Tenants can access their services at any time and will be sent the details four weeks in advance of any increase. We encourage tenants that are concerned about their financial situation to contact the Money Advice Team on 01484 414975. (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday).

We acknowledge that tenants in receipt of some benefits may be less affected by the proposed rent increase. However, for those not eligible for such support, the council has included a dedicated Financial Support Fund in this year’s budget for those tenants who may struggle because of the increase. This is in addition to the existing support available to tenants.

Despite the increase, Kirklees would still be one of the lowest areas for rents in West Yorkshire. The rent increase and re-alignment of service charges allow the council to invest in improvements like better housing, without placing undue pressure on tenants.

Investing in our housing stock

Alongside the rent proposals, cabinet members approved a £390m five-year Housing Capital Investment Plan, which outlines plans to investment in and improve council housing stock across the borough.

It is a priority for the council to ensure that homes are safe and meet the requirements of the Decent Home Standard. We will focus on building and fire safety, upgrading electrical installations, heating, kitchen upgrades, roofing works, new windows, and refurbishment of our retirement living schemes.

In addition to investment in its existing homes, kirklees will also seek to build more houses through the implementation of a new build strategy for new homes, to support the housing supply challenges within the district.

Now this item has been given the green light, next steps will be outlining the priorities of the new build programme, looking at immediate capital investment needs and allocating resources accordingly.

Councillor Moses Crook, Cabinet Member for Transport and Housing, said:

“It is always our absolute priority to make sure our tenants are living in safe, secure and decent homes – and are supported through these increases in charges.

“As in previous years, the proposed rent increases have been carefully considered in response to the financial pressures facing us as a social housing provider. These proposals are shaped by our commitment to maintaining essential services, aligning with our strategic priorities as a landlord, and to ensuring our tenants continue to receive high-quality housing provision.

“Given the ongoing financial challenges, it is imperative that we focus investment on safeguarding and enhancing our housing stock. Every tenant deserves a home that is safe and meets the required quality standards, and the capital investment outlined in the accompanying report is designed to ensure our homes remain fit for purpose, now and in the future. I am confident this approach will deliver meaningful improvements for our tenants and the wider community.”