More Misery for Hartlepool Households as Teesside Housing Giant Announces 2.7% Rent Increase....
- teessidetoday
- Feb 4
- 3 min read
More financial misery is set to be placed on already 'stretched' teesside Households, as major Teesside Private Landlord announces rent increases for April 2025....
4th Feb 2025
A major financial blow is set to hit thousands of householders across Teesside, as housing giant Thirteen Housing Group announces a 2.7% rent increase for tenants starting in April 2025, with shared Ownership tenants set to face an even steeper rise, with a 3.2% increase set to be imposed.
This rent hike comes at a time when households are already grappling with rising living costs. Council tax bills across the region are set to soar by almost 5%, piling further pressure on already struggling families—many of whom are low-income working households trying to stay afloat.
Thirteen’s Justification for the Rent Hike
In an attempt to defend the increase, Thirteen Housing Group issued a statement, saying:
"The price of everyday items continues to go up, and the cost of living remains a challenge for many people. Although this has slowed down, we're still dealing with high prices for the things we need to buy to deliver services for our Tenants".
"For Thirteen, this includes the cost of building materials to carry out repairs and modernise our homes. Increasing the rent we charge will help us continue investing heavily in improving existing homes—this year alone, we're investing £64.8 million to modernise more than 2,300 homes and support customers through tenancy support services."
Whilst Thirteen insists that many tenants will be "unaffected" due to their rent being covered by the housing element of Universal Credit—which will be adjusted accordingly—the reality for many is stark, with the increase meaning that tenants not in receipt of state benefits will be paying an extra £2.30 to £3.27 per week on their weekly rent, an amount that, whilst seemingly small, adds up to around £170.00 for the year for cash-strapped households.
Allegations of Tax Avoidance Loom Over Thirteen
Despite its claims of reinvesting money it generates into its communities, Thirteen Housing Group has come under mounting scrutiny over allegations of tax avoidance. Critics argue that the organisation is exploiting its "community benefit" status to funnel considerable profits while avoiding what would otherwise be significant tax contributions to the Treasury.
There is growing pressure on regulatory bodies to review Thirteen’s legal standing, with campaigners calling for the withdrawal of its "community benefit" status, with many believing that this classification is allowing the company to thrive at the expense of smaller, local housing associations that struggle to compete.
A Growing Burden on Teesside Households
For thousands of tenants across Teesside, Newcastle, and Humberside, this rent increase is just another financial burden in an already difficult economic climate. With council tax hikes, rising food costs, and stagnant wages, many families are wondering just how much more they can take before reaching breaking point.
Whilst Thirteen Housing Group insists that the increase is necessary for long-term improvements, tenants are said to be left wondering whether they will actually see the benefits—or whether this is just another example of a corporate giant squeezing more money out of those who can least afford it.
One thing is certain: for many struggling households, April 2025 will bring yet more unwelcome expense at a time when they can least afford it.
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Believe Housing, which owns around 15,000 homes across County Durham have so far not formally announced any rent increase for 2025 as we went to publication with this report, however sources have told Durham & Teesside today that they expect a similar 2.7% Increase for their tenants to be approved in just weeks.....
