Launch of SFHA Guide to Rent Setting and Affordability Tool

SFHA Chief Executive Mary Taylor, just two days before retiring after seven years at SFHA, was delighted to launch the Guide to Rent Setting and Affordability Tool at a launch event on 21 June.  

The event was attended by more than 60 delegates, all keen to hear more about the guide that SFHA commissioned Indigo House to produce on its behalf. Ian Brennan, Director of Regulation – Finance and Risk from the Scottish Housing Regulator also attended the launch, welcoming the guidance and stressing the importance of striking the correct balance between affordability, value for money and the viability of the business when setting rents.  

Mandy Littlewood and Anna Evans from Indigo House – two of the authors of the guidance – outlined the key aspects of the guidance and demonstrated the Affordability Tool. The guide has been designed to help housing associations and co-operatives make practical decisions on all aspects of rent policy, rent structures, rent setting and affordability in a way that embraces good value for money principles for both the landlord and their tenants. It provides a shared understanding and overview of the rent setting process, and the Affordability Tool provides a practical method of assessing if rents are affordable.  

The Rent Setting Guidance and Affordability Tool are available to all SFHA members here (please note you will have to log in to access the documents).