Welcome to your March 2026 Housing News. Find out about:

• Housing and Consumer Standards update
  
• Resident and Community Panel gets stuck in
• rent and service charges explained
• updated tenancy agreement
• automatic sprinkler system halts kitchen fire
• new! Community rooms now for hire
• Ask Briz bot
• HomeChoice and My Bristol Housing
• #BristolCares - support for young adult carers

Housing Consumer Standards update

Improving homes and services

Councillor Barry Parsons, Chair of the Homes and Housing Delivery Committee shares the progress we've made towards improving your homes and our services, and the areas of focus that are next.

"We made good progress towards completing the second stage of improvements, and the latest reporting shows that we’ve completed around 90% of activities associated with milestone two actions. We now need to do some further work to get the right data and evidence in place to confirm if we’ve completed this second phase.  

"In the coming weeks we are going to assess all the evidence behind our progress so far to see if there are any gaps. We will also get external assurance and scrutiny on this. A detailed summary of progress against milestone two will be presented at the Homes and Housing Delivery Committee in April."

Resident and Community Panel update 

• been involved in the recruitment process to appoint our new Executive Director of Housing, David McNulty
• shaped a new resident voice strategy
• met with our digital team to recommend improvements to MyBristolHousing, your online resident portal

Fire safety

Automatic sprinkler system halts kitchen fire

Last summer, a kitchen fire broke out in Hayleigh House, a high‑rise building in Hartcliffe. Thanks to the building’s automatic sprinkler system, the fire was quickly contained and put out, causing only minimal damage. Most importantly, no one was harmed.

Automatic sprinklers detect heat and release water directly over the fire, stopping it from spreading. There is a common misconception that sprinkler systems activate all heads simultaneously when triggered. Sprinkler systems use less water than firefighters do when dealing with a fire. 

In this case, the fire started from a saucepan left on the hob. Because the sprinklers activated so quickly, the only damage was some smoke marking in the kitchen and limited water in the flat corridor. Avon Fire and Rescue Service arrived promptly, and our Repairs and Maintenance Team were able to carry out clean‑up work and complete safety checks shortly afterwards. This meant residents were able to return home safely the same day.

Our sprinkler systems are an important part of keeping our buildings – and you – safe. You also have a vital role to play. By following simple fire safety steps, such as never leaving cooking unattended and always keeping communal areas clear, you help protect yourself, your neighbours, and your home.

Strengthening fire safety in high-rise buildings 

Rent and service charges explained

Each year we review your rent and service charges. As a landlord, there is a maximum we can increase it by, based on everyday cost of living and the size of your home. 

From Monday 6 April 2026, your rent will increase by 4.8%. This money will all go towards running the services you receive and making improvements to your homes. 

Over the next year we’ll spend £113 million on home improvements, £44 million on day to day maintenance work, and £13 million on services you receive. 

What you need to do

• if you receive Universal Credit, you will receive a notification on your online journal requesting your new rent figure – you will need to confirm this change on your online account after Monday 6 April 2026
• if you pay by standing order you will need to change this with your bank to update your payment 

You don’t need to do if you receive Housing Benefit or if you pay by Direct Debit. The change will be automatic. 

If you’re ever struggling to pay your bills, please contact us and we’ll do all we can to help. Call us on 0117 922 2200.

Updated tenancy agreement

If you are a council tenant, you will have received a letter from us to let you know that the conditions of your tenancy agreement will change on Monday 6 April 2026. Last summer we made you aware of the proposed changes. Between June and August 2025, we consulted with you, giving you the opportunity to share your views on the proposed changes. Thank you to the 436 tenants who took part. 

With the letter is a summary of the changes to the new introductory and secure tenancy agreements, along with a copy of your new, legally binding tenancy agreement. 
You do not need to return any of the enclosed documents to us. It is important that you read your new tenancy agreement, keep to its conditions and store it in a safe place.

Make a complaint or provide feedback

If something isn’t working for you, we want to know. Making a complaint is simple. You can do it online, by phone or in person. When you complain, we’ll explain what happens next, keep you updated and use your feedback to improve services for all residents.

Complaints aren’t judged. We welcome them because they help us put things right. Your voice matters, and by speaking up, you help shape a better housing service.

Your complaint will be treated in line with our corporate complaints policy and procedures and the standards set by the Housing Ombudsman's Complaint Handling Code.

Handy links

• Report a repair or damp or mould
• Pay your rent
• Contact your Housing Officer
• Get involved and help shape our services

We want to hear from you! 

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