Your rent –Your say
The annual rent setting consultation has begun and all WDC tenants have an opportunity to influence this important decision.
The consultation was launched at a public meeting on 29 October 2026, and voting is now open to all tenants to have their say. Voting will close on 22 January 2027, and Councillors will use the results to decide on the rent level for 2027/28 at a Council meeting in March 2027.
Rental income must cover the cost of delivering housing services and despite actions being taken to reduce expenditure and improve efficiency, costs have increased significantly due to interest rate levels impacting our borrowing costs.
A rent increase is therefore necessary, and two options are being proposed which continue to focus on keeping rent as affordable as possible, while ensuring continued improvements in line with tenant priorities and the Council’s landlord responsibilities.
Option 1: 8.25% Increase (average weekly rent increase of £8.93)
This option will include:
- Maintaining all current services that tenants receive
- Delivering our New Build housing programme
- Delivering our Capital Investment programme to improve existing Council homes
Option 2: 8.5% Increase (average weekly rent increase of £9.20)
This option will include the same as Option 1 plus:
- The establishment of a new Tenant Improvement Fund of £250k to deliver neighbourhood improvements suggested by tenants, in council housing areas.
We have made voting as easy as possible and hope you will have your say by participating in one of the following ways:
- Online: rent setting consultation
- Text: text Option 1 or 2 to 0798 354 2993
- Phone: 0798 354 2993
- Email: housingnews@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
- Post: complete and return the freepost voting card being sent out to you in the winter Housing News
- Via contact with your Housing Officer
More information on the options will be included in the winter edition of the Housing News which is due to be delivered to all tenants around the 14 December 2026.
Abridged Tenants' Improvement Fund Rent, to see more detail on the proposed new Tenant Improvement Fund which will be established if Option 2 is adopted.
Email and text reminders will also be sent out to tenants we have contact details for.