Issue - meetings
Housing Rents, Management and Maintenance Allowances 2008/09
Meeting: 14/01/2008 - Executive Member for Housing and Adult Social Services Advisory Panel (Item 52)
52 Draft Housing Rents and Management and Maintenance Allowances 2008/09 
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This report asks the Executive Member to consider the draft rent guidelines and the draft management and maintenance allowances issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government for 2008/09.
Decision:
Advice of the Advisory Panel
That the Executive Member be advised to agree Option 2 - to increase rents in York by 5.25% - and refer this to the Executive for approval.
Decision of the Executive Member
RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.
REASON: In accordance with Government guidance, and to ensure a balanced Housing Revenue Account.
Minutes:
Members considered a report which set out the draft rent guidelines and the draft management and maintenance allowances issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government for 2008/09.
The Government had agreed a phased change in rents over 10 years in April 2002, to ensure that all councils and housing associations set their rents on a new, fair and consistent basis. The deadline for rent convergence, whereby similar properties would be charged at similar rents regardless of who owned the property, had been extended to 2016/17. The effect of the extension would be to reduce potential increases for tenants.
Consideration was given to the following options:
Option 1 - To continue rent restructuring with convergence in 2011/12 and increase rents by 6.28%. This would be against Government guidance on rent restructuring and would generate income above the level assumed in the Government’s subsidy calculation.
Option 2 - To continue rent restructuring with convergence in 2016/17 and increase rents by 5.25%. This was the recommended option.
Advice of the Advisory Panel
That the Executive Member be advised to agree Option 2 - to increase rents in York by 5.25% - and refer this to the Executive for approval.1
Decision of the Executive Member
RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.
REASON: In accordance with Government guidance, and to ensure a balanced Housing Revenue Account.