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Rent scheme

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The Rent Scheme - how we work out your rent

Every one of our homes is allocated a number of points depending on its age, design and facilities. The rent is calculated by multiplying the number of points by the ‘value of a point’. The value of a point is reviewed every year.  

If you think your rent has been wrongly calculated please contact your local office.

What if I carry out improvements to my home?

We will not charge additional rent if you carry out an improvement yourself. All improvements, however, require our written approval before the work is carried out. 

What if the Housing Executive carries out improvements?

If there are changes to the design or facilities in your home the rent charge will be updated to reflect the changes made. We must give you 4 weeks notice any time your rent is to increase.

There will be no increase in charges after an adaptation for a person with a disability.

What about my rates charge? 

Rates are not covered by the points scheme and are charged in addition to the rent charge. The Land and Property Service tells us how much to charge you for rates. Rates are calculated as a percentage of the rent charge.

Where can I get further information?

If you would like more details of how the Rent Scheme works and how it affects you, contact your local office. 

There's more information on our Rent Scheme below.

Detached House, Bungalow or Cottage: 12 points

Semi-detached House, Bungalow or Cottage: 9 points

Terrace House, Bungalow or Cottage: 8 points

Flat/Maisonette (2 storeys or less): 5 points

Flat/Maisonette (3 storeys or more): 2 points

Sheltered flat: 2 points

Sheltered bungalow: 3 points

Bathroom with toilet: 3 points

Separate bathroom: 2 points

Internal toilet separate from bathroom: 2 points

Living room: 3 points

Living room with dining area: 4 points

Dining room: 2 points

Each double bedroom: 3 points

Each single bedroom: 2 points

Bed sit: 3 points

Kitchen: 3 points

Kitchen with dining area: 4 points

If you live in a sheltered dwelling, the rent is affected by the size of the property.

1 person sheltered dwelling: 2 points

2 person sheltered dwelling: 4 points

3 or more person sheltered dwelling: 6 points

Is the house fully or partly heated?

Part House Heating 
Property with space for 1 or 2 beds: 2 points
Property with space for 3 or 4 beds: 3 points
Property with space for 5 or more beds: 5 points

Whole House Heating 
Property with space for 1 or 2 beds: 3 points
Property with space for 3 or 4 beds: 5 points
Property with space for 5 or more beds: 7 points
Communal heating (district heating): -1 points

How old is the house? If you aren't sure, ask your Area Office.

Built before 1945: 1 point

Built before 1945 but fully modernised: 3 points

Built 1945-1955: 3 points

Built 1945 - 1955 but fully modernised: 4 points

Built 1956-1965: 5 points

Built 1956-1965 but fully modernised: 6 points

Built 1966-1975: 7 points

Built after 1975: 9 points

Shared access

Where access to a flat is shared, certain types of access affect the rent:

  • gallery - this is where the flat’s main entrance is off an external or internal corridor  where the access is exposed to the weather
  • gallery scissor – as above, but with a staircase dividing the blocks.

These types of access may have some kind of security in place:

  • controlled – Where the access has a lockable entrance door

  • without control – Where the access is open.

  • Finally, other flats, such as those in highrise buildings may have security in place:

  • communal controlled – Where a block of flats has a lockable front door or door entry system

  • communal without control – Where there is no such system in place.

Points

  • Gallery or gallery/scissor without control: -7 points
  • Gallery or gallery/scissor controlled: -5 points
  • Communal without control: -2 points
  • Communal, controlled: 0 points

Independent access

If the main entrance to the flat is not in a shared area, then this is known as independent access. However, if it is part of a gallery or scissor block it may affect your rent.
Feature Points

  • Gallery or gallery/scissor blocks: -5 points
  • Other: 0 points

If the house is lacking any amenities it could mean a reduction in the rent you pay:

No cold water supply whatever: -7 points

No hot water source: -7 points

Outside pump and standpipe only:  -3 points

No mains electricity: -7 points

Dwelling not served by mains sewer or septic tank: -7 points

Garage either attached to the house or situated within the grounds: 7 points

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Rates