Customers are responsible for paying rent and service charges, as well as other fees to Plumlife Homes. You can use our online Portal to check your account, view your statement and see what charges are associated with your property.
The rent you pay for your home will increase in line with your lease agreement. Under our contract with you we review your rent on 1 April each year and your rent would be adjusted in accordance with the review clause within your lease agreement.
Rents for our customers will increase in April in line with the provision in the lease for the majority of our properties.
This is a figure used to measure inflation; it reflects how much the price of common goods and services change over time.
Some of our homes also include a service charge for the cost of services within shared, communal areas. Service charges cover services such as window cleaning, communal gardening, maintenance of lifts and other shared services.
We review your service charges in line with our contracts and service costs and are based on the actual amount we expect services to cost each year. So, we charge you less when prices go down, but you will see a higher charge when they increase.
The cost of providing buildings insurance to your home has also increased this year. We have been working really hard to keep this cost down over this time and although this is an increase, we have used our bulk buying power to still achieve a competitive rate.
If you’re struggling to pay your charges, contact our friendly team on 0161 447 5050 or email directory@plumlife.co.uk. We know that rising costs will be a significant challenge for many of our customers and we will be able to provide some helpful advice.
You will not have to complete a brand-new claim with the Department for Work and Pensions. Once we write to let you know of the new rent Universal Credit will prompt you in your journal after 1 April 2024 so that you can advise them of your new rent and service charge. This is the only time you need to respond about the new rent.
Get in touch with your local council to advise them of your new charges from 1 April 2024.
Do not worry, your Direct Debit will be adjusted automatically. After we write to you at the end of February notifying you of your rent increase, we will adjust your Direct Debit and you will receive information from Allpay to confirm your new monthly payments. If you have a repayment plan for any arrears, we will add the additional amount onto your monthly Direct Debit total. We will amend your new payments in line with the new charge. If your account has an outstanding balance of £25 or less, we will collect this in your first Direct Debit payment in April.
We are here to help. Contact your Income Officer if you have arrears on your account and want to discuss increasing your payments or Direct Debit to cover this debt.
You will receive information about your rent increase in February 2024. The new charges will then apply from the beginning of April 2024.
