Struggling with rent arrears?

Not having enough money is not the only cause; often it is due to a miscalculation of benefits or not knowing how much to pay or how often. Whatever the reason, we are here to help.

As serious rent arrears can eventually lead to eviction, it’s important that you pay your rent in full and on time. If you are struggling to make the regular payments, or you are confused about your rent account, talk to us. We are here to help, not judge.

A member of the team can visit you at home or arrange to meet up in your local housing office to help find a solution to your rent arrears. We will discuss the best rent payment method suitable for you and your situation, and if needed we can also offer support with budgeting and applying for benefits. Just get in touch to find out more and to make an appointment.

Rent must be paid 52 weeks of the year

Sometimes arrears build up due to a simple miscalculation. If you work out your monthly rent by multiplying the weekly rent by four, unfortunately this means you are only calculating for 48 weeks rent and you will end up underpaying. You will be short by four weeks every year and will fall into arears. To keep your rent account up to date you must pay over 52 weeks of the year.

Need a hand working out your exact weekly or monthly rent? Just ask and we will go through it with you.

When to pay your rent

You can pay your rent weekly or monthly. But if you do not pay rent every week, you must pay in advance. We can calculate how much you need to pay and how often, and discuss instalments if needed.

Do your benefits cover your rent?

You may not realise there are charges included in your rent, such as landlord controlled heating, support charge for over 60s schemes and pull cords that are not covered by your benefit payments. Tenants sometimes fall into arrears as they mistakenly think their benefit payments cover the total amount.

Please talk to us – we can explain what is covered by your benefits and what you need to budget for.

Get in touch

If you’re in arrears or struggling to pay your rent, please call 023 8083 3388 and choose option three or send us an email and we will do our best to help you.

With the cost of living affecting so many budgets, we know that paying the rent isn’t the only financial concern for many tenants. If you are struggling to pay other utility bills or are drowning in debt, our Welfare Rights & Money Advice Team can help. And if you are a working parent, do not forget to check out our article in this month’s issue about increased help with childcare costs.