Major investment in council homes as housing budget agreed

Redditch Borough Council has approved its Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget for the year ahead, setting out major investment to improve council homes, housing services, and regulatory standards.

The HRA is separate from the council tax budget, and funded entirely through rents paid by council tenants, alongside occasional government funding.

Its budget for the year was approved at last night’s (March 2) meeting of the full council.

That will see £12.5 million invested in refurbishing homes inside and out, improving fire and building safety, replacing boilers, upgrading electrics, boosting energy efficiency, and tackling cases of disrepair.

With more than 5,500 council homes to maintain, that spending forms part of a rolling multi-year programme where works are planned over the long term based on the condition of the housing stock.

£3m was also allocated in the budget to try and grow the number of council homes in Redditch, either by building or buying them.

The budget also strengthened the council’s ability to meet regulatory requirements. It allocated funding to improve tenant engagement and housing standards as highlighted by the Regulator of Social Housing in its 2025 inspection. And updated repairs and maintenance and damp and mould policies will also ensure the council meets legal duties under the recent Awaab’s Law, helping to provide safe, well-maintained homes.

It also confirmed that rents will be set in line with the Government’s guideline of inflation plus one per cent this year, or a 4.8 per cent increase. That means that from April, the average weekly social rent in Redditch will be £111.22 (£173.43 for affordable rent).

Redditch Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Housing, Cllr Bill Hartnett, said: “This housing budget underlines the council’s commitment to providing safe, well-maintained homes, investing in long term improvements, and supporting tenants.

“We have worked hard to keep the rent increase down, and the housing service in Redditch is in a good position. We have no budget deficit, adequate reserves, sustainable long-term plans, and tenant satisfaction is rising as we continue to invest in better homes and services. We want this positive progress to continue, so that it benefits everyone, our tenants, our staff, and the wider community of Redditch.”

For more information about the council’s housing services, visit www.redditchbc.gov.uk/housing.