Haringey Council is set to implement new charges for supported accommodation, aiming to formalise charging policies and update fees for General Fund properties.
The decision, approved by Councillor Sarah Williams, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, will see licence fees and service charges for two General Fund schemes, referred to as Scheme O and Scheme B, updated from Monday 6 April 2026. These schemes, which provide short-term placements of up to two years to help residents develop independent living skills, had not had their charges updated since they opened in 2020 and 2021.
Under the new policy, licence fees for all short-term supported housing will be set at Formula Rent + 10%
as per the Rent Standard. The Rent Standard
is a set of rules by the Regulator of Social Housing that governs how social landlords set rents. For supported housing, it typically limits rents to a 'formula rent' plus a small percentage. Specifically, licence fees for new residents will be set at 'Formula Rent + 10%'.
Additionally, residents will be recharged the full costs of any services provided that are not part of the licence fee. These service charges will be split into those eligible for Housing Benefit and personal charges. The personal charges cover items such as water, heating, and other utilities, with their costs determined by the full cost of providing them. For Scheme B, new personal charges will be £8.98 per week, and for Scheme O, they will be £13.66 per week. The report notes that these personal charges have not been charged previously for Schemes B & O.
The council stated that while these changes might present a short-term challenge, they are intended to better prepare individuals for the financial responsibilities of future tenancies. Targeted support will be provided to residents who struggle to pay these charges. This support will include assistance with applications for various funds, such as signposting and facilitating applications to the Household Support Fund, Vicar's Relief Fund, and other relevant grants where appropriate.
The update is expected to generate an additional £190,000 in income for the General Fund in 2026/27. Existing residents will see their licence fees increase by no more than 4.8%, in line with the Rent Standard's limitations on annual increases for current tenancies. For current residents, the Rent Standard limits any increase in licence fees to no more than 4.8% (CPI + 1%) annually.
The decision to approve the new charging policy and update the General Fund scheme charges was made to provide clarity for residents, confirm a common charging methodology, and standardise the approach to fees. The formalisation of the charging policy in one document is intended to 'provide clarity for residents on how the charges are set'. Residents will also receive a 4-week notice prior to any increase in their licence fees, as set out in their licence agreements.
Alternative options, such as not formalising the charges or not updating the General Fund fees, were rejected due to a lack of transparency and the continuation of fee discrepancies.
More details on the approved charging policy can be found in the Statement on Licence fees ('rents') and Service Charges for Council owned Supported Accommodation. The full report pack for the meeting is available here.