Freehold, Leasehold, and Shared Ownership Review 2026

Your rent increases each year in line with the rent review clause in your lease. This is usually linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI), although recent changes in legislation mean some rents are now increased using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) instead.

The rent payable is to cover Platform's borrowing costs that they have on your home.  It does not cover any repairs to your home or communal areas.  

We know that times continue to be tough, and many people are struggling with money. That’s why we’re here to help with our Wellbeing Fund and Successful Tenancies money, benefits and jobs advice.

Find out more here.

Universal Credit 

If you receive Universal Credit, please access your online DWP journal, select ‘confirm your housing costs’ and enter the new figures outlined in this letter. Failure to report changes may result in your housing costs being incorrectly assessed.  

Please only update your journal on or after the increase date and when you receive a ‘to-do’ notification from Universal Credit. 

Housing Benefit 

If you receive Housing Benefit you will need to inform your local authority of the change in your rent/charges and they will send you a new award letter.  

It’s your responsibility to check that the details are correct and if there are any mistakes, contact your local authority to resolve the issue. 

Direct Debit 

If you pay by Direct Debit, you don't need to take any action. You will soon receive a letter from Allpay confirming the new amount to be collected. If you haven't received this letter by 31 March 2026, please let us know by calling 0333 200 7304 (selecting options 1-1-1) or emailing info@platformhg.com. 

Standing Order 

If you pay by Standing Order, you will need to contact your bank or building society and ask them to update your payment to the new amount starting from April 2026. 

Most customers have their rent reviewed in the first April after their lease has started, as set out in the lease. However, some customers may have their rent reviewed at a different point in the year, depending on the terms of their individual lease

Service charges cover the cost of maintaining communal areas, shared facilities, and services that benefit your building or estate. This can include things like grounds maintenance, cleaning of communal spaces, communal lighting, building insurance, Communal repairs, and management costs.

Your review letter details the estimated service charges for the services provided from April 2026 to March 2027, based on the costs we expect for the year ahead. 

At the end of the financial year, we will compare the estimated costs with the actual expenditure. In September 2027, we will send you the annual accounts letter showing how the actual costs compared with the estimate. If there is a difference, this may result in either a credit (surplus) or an additional amount to pay (deficit).

All service charges must be paid in line with the requirements of your lease, transfer document, or freehold agreement. For most shared owners, leaseholders, and freeholders who pay service charges, payments are due on the 1st of each month.

If we provide a service that is shared by a number of properties, the service charge is calculated by dividing the total cost of that service between the customers who benefit from it. We do not make any profit from service charges; you only pay for the services you receive.

Why is my service charge more or less than last year? Your service charge is based on the actual cost of providing services to your building or estate.

These costs can go up or down each year due to inflation and changes in the wider market. Over the past year, we have also been reviewing the way we calculate and plan for service costs. This work means we now have clearer and more up to date information when setting estimates for 2026/27, so they should be more closely aligned with the actual costs we expect for the year.

You may notice some new service charge categories in your 2026/27 estimate. These relate to services or facilities that are part of your building or estate but were not previously shown as separate items. 

We are reviewing all estates to ensure costs are allocated correctly so that charges are accurate, transparent, and reflect the services you receive. As a result, some services such as electrical safety checks, window cleaning or cleaning of communal areas may now appear as separate categories. These services have always been provided but were not itemised in this way before. 

Where a service was provided previously but not recharged, we are not backdating any costs. These costs will only be included going forward so we can continue to maintain these areas safely. You can find explanations of all service charges using the table linked below:

Service charge table

If you pay for any charges, they are listed in the Charges section of your annual rent review letter. 


 

Please note that Platform considers all "service charges" to be eligible for Housing Benefit or Universal Credit. We believe that the "Other Charges" are likely to be classed as ineligible; however, your local authority (for Housing Benefit) or the Department for Work and Pensions (for Universal Credit) may make a different determination. 

The final decision on the eligibility of each individual charge rests with the relevant authority.

If you claim Housing Benefit or Universal Credit some service charges are covered within your Housing Benefit or Universal Credit payment. 

Ineligible service charges are not covered by Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, so you need to pay for these.  

Which service charges are eligible or ineligible is determined by your local authority (for Housing Benefit) or Department of Work and Pensions (for Universal Credit). 

Linked below is a list of services that outlines all service charge headings, along with easy read descriptions. 

Service charge table

If you have any queries or concerns about any of the services you receive, please call our Customer Hub on 0333 200 7304 (selecting options 1-1-1) or email info@platformhg.com. 

Whether we provide your services or employ contractors to deliver them on our behalf, we always aim to deliver the very best that we can.  

If you have any queries or concerns about any of the services you receive, please call our Customer Hub on 0333 200 7304 (selecting options, 1-1-1) or email info@platformhg.com.