Melville agrees below-inflation rent increase

Melville Housing has announced a below-inflation rent increase of two per cent from 1 April 2010.

The increase, agreed following detailed consultation with tenants, will allow us to continue providing high quality services and keep its planned maintenance and property improvement programme at current levels.

Melville contacted all 1750 of its households in December, with 72 per cent of those who replied saying they’d be happy with the proposed two per cent increase. In addition 80 per cent of those who replied thought our current rent and service charges to be reasonable and affordable.
 
“We are very aware that for many people this year has not been an easy one,” said Melville’s Chief Executive Andrew Noble. ”Setting rent levels for the coming year was therefore a very difficult process. We are, however, satisfied that the modest, below-inflation rent increase agreed with our tenants is a fair one that will allow us to continue to provide quality housing and deliver a high level of service to all our tenants.”

Income for the coming year will help us deliver a series of improvements to tenants’ homes including an extension to the current double-glazing programme. Melville has also recently signed up to allpay, allowing its tenants far greater flexibility in how and where they can pay rent. As well as the usual methods tenants can also pay by text message and at any shop showing the Paypoint logo.