We are also looking at increasing our WMC as it has not kept in line with expenses etc.
We are not a registered housing provider, and our scheme currently includes background heating and water which we are seeking to change/exclude. Our current rates are well below the LHA levels and the Fair Rent Evaluation recently conducted by the Valuation Office.
As we are not a registered housing provider can we increase our rates as we wish, as the local housing benefit office advised me that we can only raise them by 7.7% pa?
As the majority of our residents claim HB, I am wondering if we could do a big jump but then offer to support that self-financing?
Has anyone any experience of making a large leap to get straight as the incremental annual increases we are taking will take years to get us where we need to be.