Social Rent convergence
The UK government is seeking views on how to bring some social rents up to a fairer level over time, called Social Rent convergence.
The government has published a consultation on Social Rent convergence. This is following the previous consultation on the social rent policy, which announced a 10-year rent increase going forward of CPI+ 1% each year, from 1 April 2026.
We are going to respond to this consultation as an organisation and want to make sure we get the views of both our tenants and colleagues to form that response.
If you would like to share your views with us as part of our response, please first review the information below, which tells you all about the consultation and what it means. You can then submit your views by using the form on this page, by 31 July 2025. The feedback will come to us to help us form our organisational response, which will be sent through to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.
You can also take a look at the government’s website for the consultation in full.
The government is seeking views from tenants, landlords, lenders, investors and other organisations as part of its Social Rent convergence consultation. Feedback will help the government to understand how it can bring some social rents up to a fairer level over time.
From April 2026, a new 10-year rent plan will begin. Normally, rents can go up by inflation (CPI) + 1% each year. But some social rents are still lower than the “formula rent” (the standard rent level set by the government). This consultation is about how to close that gap.
Formula rent is a standard way to calculate rent based on:
- The value of the property
- Local earnings
- Number of bedrooms.
It’s used to make sure rents are fair and consistent.
Convergence means gradually increasing lower rents (above the usual limit) until they match the formula rent. This idea was used before (from 2002 to 2015) but was stopped. Now the government wants to bring it back.
The government says this change will:
- Help fund repairs and improvements to existing homes
- Support building new social housing
- Make the rent system fairer and clearer.
Tenants in social rent homes (not affordable rent or market rent) whose current rent is below the formula rent. This applies to homes managed by housing associations (such as Ongo), and local councils.
Normally, rents can rise by CPI (inflation) + 1% each year. Under convergence, some rents could rise by more than that, but only until they reach the formula rent. The exact amount of the extra increase is still being decided and will be announced in Autumn 2025.
Yes. The government says it will:
- Make sure increases are gradual, not sudden
- Consider the impact on tenants’ finances
- Only apply this to homes that are well below the formula rent.
The new rules will begin in April 2026. The final decision will be made in the Autumn 2025 Budget.
We are collating your views in order to submit a full response to this survey.
Please complete the following form by 31 July 2025 for your views to be included as part of our full response. A copy of our privacy notice can be found here.
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