Find out about the rent we charge for council homes and garages, and other associated charges.

• rent for council homes
• heating charges
• water charges
• independent living scheme charge
• communal area cleaning charges
• Careline
• garden assistance scheme
• home contents insurance
• garage and garage site rent

Rent

We charge two types of rent on our council homes. Most are charged a social rent and a small number of properties are charged an affordable rent.

How are rents set? 

Rent setting 

In accordance with the Government’s National Social Rent Policy rents may increase by up to Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) plus 1%.  The basis for annual rent increases is the September Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) which in 2023 was 6.7%, meaning the rent increase for April 2024 will be 7.7%. 

This policy is also confirmed in the Regulator of Social Housing’s (RSH) Rent Standard, which applies to all social housing providers. 

Homes charged a social rent 

As of 27 November 2023, Chesterfield Borough Council owned 8,772 social rent properties. A social rent is calculated by a formula based on local earnings (70%) and property values (30%) in 1999 and then adjusted to account for the number of bedrooms in a property. Annual increases are then linked to the September rate of inflation. This formula sets a target rent for the property. 

Homes charged an affordable rent 

As of 27 November 2023 Chesterfield Borough Council let six homes at an affordable rent. Chesterfield Borough Council’s ‘affordable rent’ homes are properties which were delivered through the Affordable Homes Programme 2011 to 2015. Affordable rent is subject to rent controls that limit the rent at letting of a new tenancy, to 80% of the local market rent (including service charges) at that time.   

Whilst ever the tenancy remains unchanged, rent increases follow the Rent Standard which allows them to be increased by up to CPI + 1% in 2024 to 2025.  

On a change of tenancy, the rent must be re-calculated by reference to 80% of the market rent (again inclusive of service charges) at that date. This may mean that the rent could decrease rather than rise, depending on market conditions at the time. The affordable rent must not be lower than what would be the social formula rent for the property. 

Average rents for 2024 to 2025 

Applying the rent formula across the homes in our stock gives an average social rent in 2024 to 2025 of £95.95 per week and an average affordable rent of £108.88 per week:

Social general needs: 

• 8,631 properties
• average rent 2024 to 2025 £95.85 

Social sheltered (independent living schemes): 

• 141 properties
• average rent 2024 to 2025 £102.11 

Affordable general needs: 

• 6 properties
• average rent 2024 to 2025 £117.86 

Service charges 

You may have to pay service charges if you have communal facilities or some specific services. Some charges are based on the size of your property or level of service that you receive. Service charges are set annually at rates set to recover the cost of providing the service.   

Heating charges 

Tenants that live in our independent living schemes are linked to a group heating scheme and pay for heat through a service charge. Service charges paid with the rent apply to all tenants linked to a group heating scheme. The charge for heating did not change in 2024 to 2025 due to the stabilisation of energy prices. 

Heating charges are not eligible for Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit. 

2024 to 2025 charge (per week): 

• 1 bedroom - £29.70 
• 2 bedroom - £30.54 
• 3 bedroom - £31.38 

Water charges 

With the exception of some of our independent living schemes, we no longer collect water charges on behalf of Severn Trent. The weekly charge for water where we still collect is £3.89 per week. 

This charge is not eligible for Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit. 

Independent living scheme service charge 

A service charge for the running and maintenance of the communal facilities at our independent living schemes is £15.89 per week. The charge applies to all independent living schemes and will continue to be reviewed annually. 

This charge is eligible for housing benefit or the housing element of universal credit. Find out more about our independent living schemes. 

Communal area cleaning 

The weekly cleaning charge for block of flats is £2.76 per week. 

Communal area cleaning charges are eligible for Housing Benefit and the housing element of Universal Credit. 

The charges listed below are additional charges that you can choose to add to your rent account. Careline is charged separately.  

Careline 

In our independent living schemes there is an additional charge for the Careline service which is charged separately from your rent and service charges. The charges are set out below: 

Charge for 2024 to 2025 (per week): 

• monitoring only - £7.54 
• monitoring and response service - £14.50 

These charges are excluding VAT. We expect most of our customers to be exempt from this tax, but you will need to complete a VAT exemption form when registering so we can apply the VAT exemption if needed. 

Garden assistance scheme 

The garden assistance scheme is available to tenants who have difficulty maintaining their gardens. The charges for the service are set out below.  Find more information on eligibility for the scheme.  

Charges for 2024 to 2025 (per week): 

• grass cut - £4.47 
• hedge cut  - £0.86 
• grass and hedge cut - £5.35 

This charge is not eligible for Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit. 

Home contents insurance 

Home contents cover is an additional charge that can be added to your rent account if you choose to take out home contents insurance through Chesterfield Borough Council. Find out more here. 

Garages and garage sites 

A charge is payable by both tenants and non-tenants who rent a garage or lease a garage site. Please note, that VAT is also payable by non Chesterfield Borough Council tenants. 

Charges for 2024 to 2025:

• garage rent - £9.86 per week 
• garage site (shale surface) - £72.95 per year 
• garage site (asphalt) - £91.78 per year 
• garage site (other) - £100.50 per year 

Find out more information about garages and garage sites.