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RENT FREEZE FOR 2021/22 BOOST FOR TENANTS
New year cheer from RSHA as rents won’t go up in April
5th January 2021
TENANTS of Rural Stirling Housing Association are to receive a rent freeze from April.
In a welcome piece of new year cheer, we have announced that rents WON’T rise in April and will stay the same for a year.
Those we serve - like so many others - have been coping with the unprecedented upheaval caused by the pandemic.
We absolutely recognise the struggle of many of our tenants in a year where many lives have been turned upside down.”
Our Board was keen to do its bit to relieve the financial pressure which so many people have endured as a result of the health emergency.
Announcing the decision, Chair Mark Griffiths said: “We understand the financial pressures which many tenants are facing. We have considered our financial position very carefully and the Association’s Board of Management has agreed to freeze rent levels for 2021-2022. We have been able to do this because our financial position is strong which is the result of a very prudent approach in budget setting and rent increases in previous years.”
We are aware that a number of our tenants work in the service sector and hospitality industry – both of which have been particularly badly hit by lockdown and other restrictions.
Around 35 per cent of RSHA tenants – not already receiving financial help with housing costs – have indicated they were “facing difficulties” paying their rent as a result of COVID.
Mark added: “We want to support our tenants and avoid the people we serve from getting into debt at what remains a hugely-difficult time.”
At this time of year all Scottish housing associations set rent levels for the following financial year beginning in April. Usually, rents have to rise across the housing association sector due to increased costs incurred. Typically, these can be in the region of 3 or 4 per cent each year but do vary.
