Page 10 - Pobl Annual Report FY25

8 Annual Report 2025
Secure and affordable housing for all
We understand that a secure and affordable home is fundamental to our customers’ wellbeing.
As a community landlord, we continue to offer secure or supported standard contracts in line
with the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, ensuring stability and clarity for all our residents.
Affordability remains at the heart of our rent‐setting approach. We continued to apply our Living
Rent policy, which is based on the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s principles and tailored to reflect
local earnings, property size, type, and energy efficiency. This ensures rents are fair, transparent,
and aligned with what our customers can reasonably afford.
In recognition of the ongoing financial pressures many households face, we have once again
implemented a rent uplift below the maximum allowed by Welsh Government.
Over 875 rents were frozen this year because they are already at or above the Living Rent level.
This marks the third consecutive year that we have frozen rents for a significant number of homes,
demonstrating our commitment to affordability.
We also made important updates to our rent formula this year, including:
• deeper discounts for homes with lower energy efficiency;
• reduced modifiers for smaller properties, making them more affordable, and
• new uplifts for homes with renewable energy systems, reflecting the lower energy costs
for residents.
Service charges are another key factor in housing affordability. Throughout the year, we engaged
with customers to review and simplify these charges, removing some services and reducing costs
where possible. This work will continue as part of our broader commitment to delivering quality
homes at a price people can afford.