Cost of living & fair work

Practical help with bills, housing pressure, and the everyday costs that are squeezing families.

The “cost of living” isn’t one problem — it’s lots of everyday pressures stacking up: rent or mortgage, energy bills, food shopping, transport, childcare, and wages that don’t stretch as far as they used to. Even in a borough like Reigate & Banstead, where many households are doing OK, there are still plenty of residents who are struggling or one surprise bill away from difficulty.

A councillor can’t control national prices — but local government can help in real ways: signposting support that already exists, making sure help reaches the people who need it, improving how the council communicates, and pushing for fairer, healthier local choices. This is about making life a little easier — and doing it consistently, not just when there’s a crisis.

What I'm hearing (and what I expect to hear more of)

Housing pressure — rent levels, deposits, moving costs, and insecurity.
Energy bills — especially for people in older, harder-to-heat homes.
Childcare and time pressure — many parents feel they “work to pay for childcare”.
Transport costs — getting to work, school, and appointments adds up quickly.
Work that doesn’t pay enough — people doing vital jobs but still struggling.

Practical actions I will focus on locally

1) Make support easier to find (and easier to use)

Councils already offer help — the problem is that many people don’t know what exists, or feel overwhelmed by the process. I want simple, clear signposting and a “no wrong door” approach so residents can quickly find the right help.

Reigate & Banstead publishes cost of living support information (including help with food, energy, council tax, rent/mortgage and advice services) — but it can be made more visible and more user-friendly.

2) Help residents stay in their homes

When people fall behind on rent, things can spiral fast. One practical tool is the council’s Discretionary Housing Payment (for eligible residents who need extra help with rent). I want to make sure residents know it exists and can access it early, before problems become crises.

Discretionary housing payments are specifically designed to help with rent when Housing Benefit or Universal Credit housing support isn’t enough.

3) Push for warm homes and lower bills

Warm homes aren’t a luxury — they’re a health issue. Cold, damp housing contributes to illness, missed work, and pressure on the NHS. Local government can work with partners to promote insulation, advice, and support schemes, and make sure renters aren’t stuck paying to heat leaky homes.

4) Fair work and fair treatment

People deserve decent pay, predictable hours where possible, and respect at work. I'm interested in what the council can do through procurement (who it buys from), employment standards, and supporting local employers who do the right thing.

Why this matters in our area

Reigate & Banstead is a “high cost” area — and that affects everything: rents, deposits, commuting, and even the price of day-to-day essentials. The ONS local housing indicators show average private rents in the borough around £1,609 (November 2025). For many households, that one number alone explains why everything feels tight.

What I can promise

Visibility: I’ll be out, listening, and reporting back — not just appearing at election time.
Practical help: Clearer signposting and better access to support residents are entitled to.
Fairness: Pushing for decisions that help the many, not the few — especially on housing and living costs.
Honesty: I won’t pretend a councillor can fix everything — but I will work hard on the things we can fix.

Tell me what’s hitting you hardest

The best priorities come from residents. If you live in Redhill West & Meadvale, I would genuinely like to hear what you think the biggest cost pressures are — and what practical changes would help.

Send me a message → Back to priorities →

Council support information is available via Reigate & Banstead’s cost of living pages.