Many tenants recently received their 2026/27 rent letter, which included a change to how rent and service charges are presented.
This change follows feedback from tenants who told us they preferred how charges were shown before 2019, when rent and communal services were listed separately.
What has changed?
From April 2026, rent letters now show:
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Core Rent – the cost of your home and the housing services we provide
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Communal Service Charges – shared services within your development
Between 2019 and 2025, these costs were combined into a single rent figure.
Separating them again helps make it clearer what tenants are paying for.
Importantly, this does not introduce new charges. It is simply a clearer way of showing costs that were previously included within rent.
Rent and service charges will change as follows:
Rent +4.8%
Communal Service Charge +4.8%
Domestic Energy No change
Communal Energy No change
Meals service +6.9%
Staffing charge +6.9%
What are communal service charges?
Communal service charges cover services that support shared spaces in a development. These may include:
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garden maintenance
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window cleaning
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lift servicing and maintenance
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cleaning and upkeep of communal areas
Not every development has the same services, so charges may vary depending on what is provided where you live.
What happens next?
We will continue reviewing how rent and service charges are structured over the coming year to ensure they remain clear, fair, and transparent.
Later in the year, we will also consult tenants on how charges are presented and how this could be improved in the future.
Want to share your views?
Tenant feedback plays an important role in shaping how we communicate about charges and services.
If you would like to take part in future consultations, you can:
Email engage@bield.co.uk
You can also join our Tenant Insight Network, where tenants receive updates and opportunities to share their views through surveys and discussions.