The Group Finance Director submitted a report to Cabinet to present the outcome of Oxford City Council’s (the council’s) annual rent review and associated rent setting proposal for 2026/27 in respect of all council dwellings within the Housing Revenue Account, including the setting of associated services and facilities charges.

Cabinet is recommended to:

Recommend to Council to:  

1. Approve an increase of 4.8% + up to £2 for rent convergence (max) for 2026/27 (subject to any subsequent cap on increases imposed by central government) in social dwelling rents from 1^st April 2026 giving an average weekly increase of £8.47 per week, and a revised weekly average social rent of £143.40 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 4.8% (CPI + 1%) to enable the HRA to recover the associated cost of supply. 

4. Approve an increase to the charge for a garage of 5.0%, equating to an increase of £1.00 per week for a standard garage within a curtilage with a revised charge of £21.00 per week. 

5. Approve an increase to the rent and service charges for General Fund Temporary Accommodation as set out in the Financial Implications section of this report. 

Cabinet resolved to:

Recommend that Council:

1. Approve an increase of 4.8% + up to £2 for rent convergence (max) for 2026/27 (subject to any subsequent cap on increases imposed by central government) in social dwelling rents from 1^st April 2026 giving an average weekly increase of £8.47 per week, and a revised weekly average social rent of £143.40 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 4.8% (CPI + 1%) to enable the HRA to recover the associated cost of supply. 

4. Approve an increase to the charge for a garage of 5.0%, equating to an increase of £1.00 per week for a standard garage within a curtilage with a revised charge of £21.00 per week. 

5. Approve an increase to the rent and service charges for General Fund Temporary Accommodation as set out in the Financial Implications section of this report. 

The Group Finance Director submitted a report to Cabinet to present the outcome of Oxford City Council’s (the council’s) annual rent review and associated rent setting proposal for 2026/27 in respect of all council dwellings within the Housing Revenue Account, including the setting of associated services and facilities charges.

Councillor Linda Smith presented the report. She discussed the ongoing cost of living crisis and the unfortunate position that the Council is in, causing their need to raise rents and service charges. She said that the changes will allow them to continue to invest in Council properties and into new homes. She said that they still do not have an update on rent convergence, but that the report gives them space to raise legacy rents, which she explained are sometimes lower than those of individuals who are currently moving into Council properties. She said that addressing this would also help them address inequality, but that they were not yet sure to what level they could raise legacy rents as they were awaiting further information from central government. Despite the raise in rents, she said that the rents would still be very good value for money and affordable for the city.

Councillor Arshad asked about legacy rents and how much the increase in rent prices would be.

Councillor Smith said that the rise would be between one to two pounds a week, in addition to the raise in rents which all residents of Council housing would be facing.

Councillor Brown expressed her support for rent convergence and how this would address inequality in this sector.

Cabinet resolved to:

Recommend to Council to:  

1. Approve an increase of 4.8% + up to £2 for rent convergence (max) for 2026/27 (subject to any subsequent cap on increases imposed by central government) in social dwelling rents from 1^st April 2026 giving an average weekly increase of £8.47 per week, and a revised weekly average social rent of £143.40 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 4.8% (CPI + 1%) to enable the HRA to recover the associated cost of supply. 

4. Approve an increase to the charge for a garage of 5.0%, equating to an increase of £1.00 per week for a standard garage within a curtilage with a revised charge of £21.00 per week. 

5. Approve an increase to the rent and service charges for General Fund Temporary Accommodation as set out in the Financial Implications section of this report.