Tenants across Fareham borough to see housing rents and swathe of other charges rise

Members at Fareham Borough Council’s Full Council meeting on February 20 backed a 4.8 per cent rise in social housing rents from April 2026 — the maximum permitted under current Government guidance.

The increase will apply to council homes across the borough and represents the headline measure in a wider review of housing-related fees and charges.

Examples of the new weekly rents include:

• Rose Court — £104.54 rising to £109.56 (£5.02)
• Grebe Close — £135.78 rising to £142.30 (£6.52)
• Collingwood Court — £127.59 rising to £133.71 (£6.12)
• Foxbury Grove — £113.88 rising to £119.35 (£5.47)
• Garden Court — £100.08 rising to £104.88 (£4.80)
• Sicily House — £110.48 rising to £115.78 (£5.30)
• Fairfield Avenue — £132.33 rising to £138.68 (£6.35)
• Jubilee Court — £151.21 rising to £158.47 (£7.26)

Council garage rents will also increase by 4.8 per cent, adding 78p per week.

A number of service and ancillary charges will also change. Daily charges for gas supplies, communal laundry services and water provided to domestic properties are set to rise.

The weekly mobility scooter storage fee — which contributes towards electricity costs, wear and tear of facilities and annual portable appliance testing — will increase by 3.8 per cent, from £1.75 to £1.82 per scooter.

Communal cleaning charges, covering window cleaning, general block cleaning, bin cleaning and the maintenance of shared areas in council housing blocks, have been reviewed to reflect the full cost of window and bin cleaning following improvements under a new contract arrangement.

Grounds maintenance charges — including grass cutting, sweeping, weed treatment, litter picking and hedge cutting — have also been adjusted to ensure full cost recovery.

Overall, the average increase in service charges for 2026/27 will be four per cent, equating to an average rise of 6p per week in cash terms.