The Head of Financial Services had submitted a report to present the outcome of Oxford City Council’s (the council’s) annual rent review and associated rent setting proposal for 2025/26 in respect of all council dwellings within the Housing Revenue Account, including the setting of associated services and facilities charges.

Recommendation: That Council resolves to:

·       Approve an increase of 2.7% for 2025/26 (subject to any subsequent cap on increases imposed by central government) in social dwelling rents from 1st April 2025 giving an average weekly increase of £3.51 per week, and a revised weekly average social rent of £133.68 as set out in the Financial Implications section of this report.

·       Approve an increase to rents for shared ownership dwellings as outlined in paragraph 21 of the Financial Implications.

·       Approve an increase to service charges by 2.7% (CPI + 1%) to enable the HRA to recover the associated cost of supply.

·       Approve an increase to the charge for a garage of 4.1%, equating to an increase of £0.78 per week for a standard garage within a curtilage with a revised charge of £20.00 per week.

Council received a report from the Head of Financial Services relating to the HRA Rent Setting Report 2025/26.

Councillor Linda Smith introduced the report and proposed the recommendations.

On being seconded by Councillor Turner, the recommendations were put to the vote and agreed.

Council resolved to:

1.    Approve an increase of 2.7% for 2025/26 (subject to any subsequent cap on increases imposed by central government) in social dwelling rents from 1st April 2025 giving an average weekly increase of £3.51 per week, and a revised weekly average social rent of £133.68 as set out in the Financial Implications section of this report;

2.    Approve an increase to rents for shared ownership dwellings as outlined in paragraph 21 of the Financial Implications;

3.    Approve an increase to service charges by 2.7% (CPI + 1%) to enable the HRA to recover the associated cost of supply;

4.    Approve an increase to the charge for a garage of 4.1%, equating to an increase of £0.78 per week for a standard garage within a curtilage with a revised charge of £20.00 per week.