From Monday 6 April 2026, the amount of rent you pay will increase.
If you live in the Blaby District and pay variable service charges, your rent will increase from 20 April 2026.
If you receive Universal Credit, it’s important to verify the rent in your account from 6 April 2026 (or 20 April 2026 if you live in Blaby District) using the ‘confirm your housing costs’ option. It may take up to 28 days for this to complete.
Please avoid using the 'change of circumstances' option.
Below you’ll find answers to frequently asked questions regarding rent and rent increases.
For further details and additional FAQs, please read our rent increase booklet.
No. our Income team will automatically update your Direct Debit to reflect the new rent and service charges.
If you pay by Standing Order, you'll need to update the payment amount based on your new rent and service charges. If you need help with this, please contact our Income team.
Yes, if your rent has increased, you will need to inform the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) so they can adjust your payments accordingly. If you don’t update them, they will continue to pay the previous rent amount.
Here’s how to update your Universal Credit (UC) account:
- Log in to your UC account: Visit www.gov.uk/sign-in-universal-credit and log in as usual.
- Go to the 'To-Do List': Click on the ‘To-do list’ tab.
- Confirm your housing costs: Select ‘Confirm your housing costs’ and enter the new rent amount. You should have received a letter from us detailing the updated charges for your property.
- Check your journal: Once you’ve completed this task, there should be an entry in your journal confirming the update.
- Don’t use ‘Report a Change’: Make sure to update your rent under the ‘To-do list’ section, not the ‘Report a Change’ tab.
Important: Please update your UC account within a day or two of your rent increase date to ensure you receive the right amount towards your housing costs.
If you’re unsure about the new charges or need help, please contact your Income Officer.
If you currently receive Housing Benefit that is paid directly to us, you don’t need to take any action. Your entitlement will be automatically updated, and you should receive confirmation from your local authority.
If you receive Housing Benefit yourself, you will need to inform your council about the new charges for your home.
You can arrange for your Housing Benefit to be paid directly to us. To set this up, please contact us via email at customerservices@emh.co.uk or call 0300 123 6000.
If your Housing Benefit doesn’t cover the full rent amount, you’ll need to make up the difference using another payment method.
This only applies to emh residents living in Erewash who were previously tenants of Erewash Borough Council or Three Valleys Housing.
If you receive Universal Credit, your housing payment is spread over 52 weeks, even if you only pay rent for 48 weeks. This means you'll get a smaller amount each week during the rent-paying weeks, but you’ll still receive payments during your rent-free weeks. The total stays the same across the year - it’s just divided evenly over 52 weeks.
As a result, you may need to use part of the personal element of your Universal Credit each month to cover the shortfall. It’s important to keep your rent account up to date, so you can’t rely on your rent-free weeks to catch up on any money you owe us.
If you would prefer not to have to pay any extra from the personal element of your Universal Credit payment every month and no longer want the rent-free periods, please contact us and we will help you amend your tenancy.
Check out our Money Matters page here
