Fuel and travel costs are pushing prices up again
Thursday 5 November 2026
Inflation has risen to 3.1%, meaning everyday spending is getting more expensive just as household budgets are already under pressure.
Rent for certain social homes set under special rules, rather than at the going local market rate.
In England, Social Rent is a specific kind of low-cost rented housing, generally provided by a council or housing association. Its rent is set using a government formula that takes local incomes and property values into account. It differs from Affordable Rent, another type of social housing whose rent can be linked to the local market. “Social rent” does not simply mean any rent a tenant finds affordable. The rules and labels differ elsewhere in the UK.
Two homes may both be described as “social housing”, but one can be let at Social Rent and the other at Affordable Rent. The rents need not be the same even if both homes are in the same area.
Counts of “affordable homes” can combine homes with different rent rules, so the label alone does not tell you what tenants will pay.
Keep in the loop
Highlights from about the UK economy, the UK government and the UK public sector.
Thursday 5 November 2026
Inflation has risen to 3.1%, meaning everyday spending is getting more expensive just as household budgets are already under pressure.
Wednesday 4 November 2026
Interest rates are staying at 3.75%, so households with mortgages and other borrowing may have to wait longer for costs to come down.
Wednesday 4 November 2026
A higher energy price cap means many households will be paying more to heat and power their homes during the colder months.
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