Help and support with the cost of living

We're continuing to support tenants with the cost of living. If you’re worried about the rent increase or struggling to pay any of your other bills or to buy essentials – please talk to us, we’re here to help.

If you’re a Berneslai Homes tenant, then your rent will increase by 7.7% from Monday 1 April 2024. (*) We know rent increases can be worrying, so we want to assure you if you’re affected that additional support is available.  

The rent increase works out at a weekly average of £6.47 per property. This means that we can continue to provide excellent services, carry out repairs, and deliver our planned programme of works so that tenants are comfortable, safe, and live in a good quality home.

If you’re worried about how you’re going to pay your rent, please contact us using our online form here or phone us on 01226 787878 and ask for the Income team.

Our Tenants First team can also give you help, over the phone or at your home. They can support you to have more money coming into your household and less going out and can help with things like:

• Money and budgeting advice
• Getting the right benefits and grants
• Managing debt
• Citizens Advice referrals
• Getting online
• Foodbank and Community Shop referrals
• Jobs, skills, and training

If you’d like to know more about our tenant support complete the online form here. You can also phone us on 01226 787878 and ask for the Tenants First team.

You can also find further information on how we can help and support you on our Cost of Living webpage here.

For further information on the rent increase please visit the Barnsley Council website here.

(*) This is the standard social rent increase which matches the rate of inflation in September 2023 plus 1%.