Pay your council housing rent

Your rent is due each Monday for the week ahead and is payable every fortnight in any one of the following ways:

Direct from your bank

If you have a bank account, or the right type of building society account, you can arrange to pay your rent by standing order or direct debit.

Standing orders run for a fixed period and allow us to take a set amount from your account. If your rent changes during this fixed period, we will send you a new standing order form to complete. If you would like to pay your rent by standing order, please let us know and we will send you a form to complete.

Direct Debits are an easy and convenient way to pay your rent, which allow us to take an amount from your account each month. They are more flexible than standing orders because we can vary the amount we take from your account each month (if your rent changes) without you having to complete a new instruction form. We will always give you at least 10 days' notice if we are going to change the amount of money we take from your account.

Please note that direct debit payments can only be made monthly and the amount due will come out of your account on or around the 12th of each month.

Online and automated telephone payments

This system is certified completely secure and confidential. If you have not paid this way before you may wish to read the notes section at the end of the online and automated telephone payments page. You will find that both payment methods guide you through the process.

Doorstep collection

In some areas of the district, we run a fortnightly collection service for those who are not able to pay their rent in any other way.

Wage or salary deductions

If you work for the council, we can arrange for your rent payments to be deducted from your wages or salary, as applicable.

Local Housing Allowance

If you are unemployed or on a low income, you may be able to get local housing allowance (housing benefit) to help you pay your rent.

If you are already getting local housing allowance, you must let them know if your circumstances change as this may affect your benefit entitlement.

Listed below are some of the main changes that are likely to affect your benefit:

• your income either increases or reduces;
• you stop or start claiming Income Support;
• somebody moves into or out of your home;
• you start or stop working; or
• your savings either increase or reduce.

If you do not tell our Benefits and Revenues Services as soon as your circumstances change, and you receive too much benefit, you will have to repay it.