Purpose

To seek Members’ agreement on the budget for the Housing
Revenue Account (HRA) for 2026/27, approve the resulting rent levels and for
Members to approve the HRA Business Plan 2026/27 for submission to Welsh
Government (WG)

Content

RESOLVED
–

 

(i)       That the
following rent levels be approved:

 

-       
Wrexham continues to use a Target Rent for each
type of property applying 4.3%% to current target rents for 2026/27

 

-       
For properties that are below the Target Rents for
2026/27 – an increase of rent of 4.3%

 

-       
For properties at or above the Target Rents for
2026/27 – no rent increase

 

-       
An increase of 4.3% for garage rent to £10.41
(48 week basis)

 

-       
An increase of 4,3% for garage plots (annual
charge £68.98)

 

-       
An increase of 4.3% for warden charge to £4.36
per week

 

-       
An increase of 4.3% for charges for Travellers’
plots to £109.62 and £129.70 per week for larger plots (52 week basis)

 

(ii)      That the HRA budget for 2026/27 as set out
in Appendix 1 to report COH/01/26 be approved.

 

(iii)     That
the HRA Business Plan 2026/27 be approved for submission to Welsh Government
(Appendix 5) and it be noted that a review of HRA budgets will be undertaken
throughout the year and reported to the Wrexham Tenant & Member
Partnership.

 

(iv)     That
this matter be dealt with as an urgent item of business in accordance with
Section 5 (Rule 5.8.10) of the Council’s Constitution.

 

Reasons for Decisions

 

(i)       To
set the overall rent levels of Council house dwellings for 2026/27 in
accordance with the WG rent policy and ensure that the HRA operates with
appropriate levels of balance.

 

(ii)      To
comply with WG’s requirement to produce an annual HRA Business Plan and
demonstrate that there is sufficient budget to continue to undertake planned
works to ensure that all properties are maintained to the appropriate standard
for tenants.

 

(iii)     
This matter is to be dealt with as an urgent item to ensure that the
revised rent is implemented with effect from April 2026.  There is a requirement under Renting Homes
(Wales) Act 2016 that two months’ notice of a rent increase is given to
contract holders.  Any delay in serving
the notice could impact on the start date of the revised rent with a
detrimental impact on the HRA for 2026/27.