Rent Consultation 2026/27
THIS YEAR WE ARE CONSULTING ON AN INCREASE OF EITHER:
4.5% or 5.5%
TO START FROM 1ST APRIL 2026
We want to hear your views on our proposed rent increase for 2026/27. Each year we consult all tenants before any decision is made, and your feedback helps shape how we set rents and plan the services we deliver.
Rent Consultation Questionnaire – Please click here
Why do we need a rent increase?
We understand that any rent increase is unwelcome. However, over the past few years’ inflation has risen sharply, especially in the cost of materials, repairs, labour, and other essential services. These costs are still increasing, and this puts pressure on our ability to maintain and improve your homes. To continue providing safe, good-quality housing and services, we need to adjust rents in line with these rising costs.
As your landlord, we must ensure that Waverley Housing remains financially viable. This means we must collect enough rental income to:
- Maintain and improve our homes
- Carry out essential repairs
- Deliver core services
- Continue to operate as a sustainable organisation
The Board’s preferred option is an increase of RPI + 1% (5.5%).
This level of increase:
- Keeps rents affordable
- Ensures we remain financially stable
- Allows us to continue investing in your homes and communities
If we froze or reduced rent levels, we would only be able to carry out the most essential repairs, and some services could be reduced. We want to avoid this and continue improving the services we provide.
What Does This Increase Mean for You?
Table 1 shows the average rents for 2025/26 and how they compare with the Borders average.
Table 2 shows the impact of the proposed 5.5% increase.
Increasing rents by 5.5% meets affordability standards while allowing us to continue investing in your home.
In the 2024 Tenant Survey, tenants ranked keeping rents affordable as your number one priority. We believe the proposed increase balances affordability with the need to maintain and improve homes.
How We Are Investing in Better Services
We are upgrading our digital systems to improve how you access services and how we support you. This includes:
- A new Housing Management System
- A new Choice-Based Lettings platform
- A new repairs scheduling system
These improvements will allow you to:
- Access your tenancy information through our tenant portal
- View rent accounts
- Report repairs
- Access documents
- Submit complaints or queries
They will also help us better understand tenant needs and plan our services more effectively. We will keep you updated as these improvements go live.
Your Priorities
In our 2024 Tenant Survey, you told us your top three priorities were:
- Keeping rents affordable
- Getting repairs completed quickly
- Getting repairs completed on time
Do you still agree with these priorities?
The questionnaire will ask you to select Yes or No.
If you select No, please tell us what your priorities should be.
How do I feedback?
You can click on the following link and complete the questionnaire by the 9th January 2026, and when you do, we will enter you into a draw with a chance to win one of the five prizes of £100.
Your voice and opinions truly matter, so please let us know and click on the link.
