Canterbury council tenants face a 4.5% rent rise in April 2027, plus up to £1 a week for many. A survey found a £26.3m repairs backlog on the council's homes.
Canterbury City Council tenants face a 4.5% rent rise from April 2027. Many will pay up to £1 a week on top of that.
The council’s draft housing budget also shows a maintenance backlog of about £26.3m on its homes. That figure comes from a survey that reported in July. It leaves out future costs for meeting new energy and decency standards.
Cabinet voted unanimously on Tuesday 3 November to consult on the plans. The decision on the rent rise comes on 9 February 2027.
What tenants would pay
The report gives average weekly rents, charged over 50 weeks of the year.
| Home | Social Rent now | 4.5% rise | Convergence | Social Rent 2027/28 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | £94.18 | £4.24 | £1 | £99.42 |
| 1 bedroom | £105.76 | £4.76 | £1 | £111.52 |
| 2 bedrooms | £124.33 | £5.60 | £1 | £130.93 |
| 3 bedrooms | £140.93 | £6.34 | £1 | £148.27 |
| 4 bedrooms | £161.89 | £7.29 | £1 | £170.18 |
| 5 bedrooms | £166.26 | £7.48 | £1 | £174.74 |
The 4.5% is the most government policy allows: September’s CPI inflation of 3.5%, plus 1%.
The extra £1 is called rent convergence. It applies only to Social Rent homes charged less than the government’s formula rent. On 1 October, 3,754 homes were in that position, by an average of £5.46 a week. From April 2028 the extra could be up to £2 a week.
The council’s 89 Affordable Rent homes get the 4.5% rise but no extra £1. Lifeline stays at £4 a week. Service charges are expected to rise by about 3.5%, though the costs are still being worked out.
The report says 75% of tenants receive full or partial Housing Benefit or Universal Credit towards their rent. It argues that most tenants would therefore not gain from a smaller rise. Social Rents average about 40% to 50% of market rents, it says.
What the money is for
The council says the survey found:
- a backlog of about £26.3m
- 1,071 homes that are not decent, which puts decency at 79%
It plans to add £7m to the housing capital programme. Spending this year should lift decency to 81%, and the focus for 2027/28 is on reaching 100%.
The backdrop is the Regulator of Social Housing’s judgement of October 2025. It graded the council C3, meaning not compliant, with weaknesses or serious failings requiring significant improvement. The report says the regulator recognises that the council has an action plan and is engaging constructively.
Councillor Pip Hazelton, the Cabinet member for housing, told the meeting that the draft budget includes £3.5m for housing developments, such as East Street. She said 234 garages at 12 sites were upgraded this year, including 137 that had been empty, with up to £500,000 more next year.
What it means for you
- If you are a council tenant, your own figure may differ from these averages. The final figures follow the February decision.
- If you claim Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, the report says those payments are based partly on the rent you are charged.
- If you want to comment, the consultation runs from 11 November to 6 January. Councillor Hazelton said responses were poor last year, and that an article will go in the tenants’ e-newsletter on 7 December.
The draft goes to the Overview Committee on 21 January 2027 and to full council on 22 February.
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