Rent - how and where to pay
This section is for council tenants, it explains how you can pay your rent, how to access your rent account and what to do if you miss a payment. If you have are having difficulties with your payments you should call 01322 343134.
- When Do I Have To Pay?
- How Can I Pay?
- Where Can I Pay?
- How we set your rent
- Information About My Account
- What Should I Do If I Have A Problem Paying My Rent or Service Charges
- Help With Paying - Housing Benefit
- Debt advice
- Contact a Housing Officer
- Former tenant arrears
When Do I Have To Pay My Rent?
Your rent is due on Monday of every week. As long as you pay in advance you can pay weekly, fortnightly or monthly.
The rent you have to pay each year is calculated over 48 or 49 weeks of the year. There are 4 free weeks when no rent is due. However, if you have rent arrears you must continue to pay in these weeks to reduce your arrears.
How Can I Pay?
Our aim is to make it as easy as possible for you to pay your rent. Dartford Borough Council offers various methods for payment of rent.
Online
Tenants can use the secure online payment option
For rent payments, you will need to have your Debit/Credit Card details and rent account number handy. Please note that the Council can only accept payment by Switch, Visa Debit, Mastercard, Visa, Electron or Solo. It will take 2 working days for the payment to show on your account.
Cash or cheque
Cheques should be made payable to Dartford Borough Council and crossed "A/C Payee". Please make sure that you write your address and your rent account number on the back of the cheque.
Debit or Credit Card
The Council can accept payment by Switch, Visa Debit, Mastercard, Visa, Electron or Solo.
Standing Order
If you would like to pay by standing order, please contact one of the Housing Assistants on 01322 343134 who will provide you with a form for you to complete and forward to your bank or building society. You are responsible for telling your bank about any changes in the amounts to be paid each year. Rent charges are reviewed each year in line with Government guidelines, so it is likely that the amount of your standing order will need to be changed every April. Standing orders are paid monthly in advance.
Telephone
Please have your Debit/Credit card and rent account or invoice number ready when you telephone. Please note that the Council can only accept payment by Switch, Visa Debit, Mastercard, Visa, Electron or Solo.
Touch Tone
This fully automated payment service is available by calling 0845 634 3001. It's available 24 hours, 7 days a week and the payment will show on your account after 2 working days.
Post
To pay by post, send your crossed cheque or postal order to:
Dartford Borough Council
Home Gardens
Dartford, DA1 1DR
Remember to write your address and rent account number on the back of the cheque which must be made payable to Dartford Borough Council and crossed "A/C Payee".
Electronic Payment Card (Swipe Card)
An Electronic Payment Card (Swipe Card) will be sent to you within 3 weeks of taking up your tenancy. Rent can be paid by taking this card with your cash or cheque to any post office or outlet showing the Payzone symbol. The cashier will take your payment and will return your card to you along with a paper receipt. Make sure you keep these receipts safe in the plastic wallet provided to check against your next quarterly rent statement.
Direct Debit
This secure and flexible facility for paying your rent is now available for collection on four dates each month, 1st, 9th, 16th and 23rd. Click here to download a Direct Debit Form or contact the Rents Section on 01322 343134 for further information.
Where Can I Pay?
Cash Offices
You may pay in person at one of the Council's two cash offices. These are located at:
Civic Centre, Home Gardens, Dartford
Open from 9am until 3pm Monday to Friday (excluding Wednesday)
Tel: 01322 343001
Swanscombe Town Council Offices,
The Grove,
Swanscombe,
Kent.
DA10 0GA
Open from 9am until 1pm Monday to Friday (excluding Wednesday)
Tel: 01322 343064
Please note both cash offices are closed on Wednesdays.
How we set your rent
Your weekly rent is usually made up of the following elements:
- Net rent - this is the weekly charge for your tenancy of the property.
- Heating and hot water - if it is provided by a central system in your block.
- Service charges - for services such as estate cleaning, communal lighting, security, grounds maintenance and communal digital aerial systems.
- Supporting People - for a housing-related support service if you have one. You don't have to pay this charge if you're claiming Housing Benefit.
Your rent is assessed under Government guidelines which apply to all councils and housing associations.
Information About Your Account
If you contact a Housing Assistant on (01322 343134) requesting information about your rent account, please make sure that you have your rent account number available as you will be asked to give this.
If you don't have your rent account number when you call, the Housing Assistant will ask you to confirm your date of birth as a security measure, before giving you any information about your account. This is for Data Protection purposes and helps to keep your personal information safe.
What Should I Do If I Have A Problem Paying My Rent?
Contact your Housing Assistant or Housing Officer immediately either by telephone on 01322 343134 or by calling into the Civic Centre, where you will be seen even if you do not have an appointment. However, it helps us to allocate time to help you and reduces waiting times if you make an appointment first.
As with all debts, once you have fallen behind with your rent or service charges it can be very difficult to pay off your arrears quickly. We will discuss with you ways you can clear them gradually or suggest other advice that may be available, for example, from the Citizens’ Advice Bureau.
All conversations and discussions concerning your debt will be in strict confidence and any information provided will only be used for the purpose for which it was supplied under the Council’s Data Protection Protocol.
Consumer Credit Counselling Service
Provides free debt advice and help, which is completely anonymous. CCS will work with you to put together a debt management plan & will discuss all the options which are available to you.
Contact 0800 138 1111 or visit www.cccs.co.uk for more information.
National Debtline
The National Debtline provides free confidential and independent advice on how to deal with debt problems. The freephone helpline for debt advice is 0808 808 4000 and is available from Monday to Friday between 9am and 9pm and Saturday between 9am and 1pm.
They may be able to:
- check you are getting all the benefits you may be entitled to
- help you identify the most important debts and take action accordingly
- help you plan your weekly and monthly budget
- draw up a financial statement by looking at your income and outgoings
- help you to decide on a plan to deal with your debts
- negotiate with the people you owe money to
- advise you on court procedures, help reply to court documents and represent you at court appearances where appropriate
Also, the Citizens Advice Bureau can offer independent financial advice and support. For details of the Dartford CAB office visit Dartford Citizens Advice Bureau page.
Help With Your Rent - Housing Benefit
All tenants may apply for Housing Benefit. The amount of benefit you receive will depend on your income and savings and the number of children and others living with you as well as on how much rent you pay.
Application forms are available from the Housing Benefit reception desk at the Civic Centre, or by ringing 01322 343434.
You must complete a separate Housing Benefit form even if you receive Income Support. When making your claim you must provide your National Insurance Number and proof of your identity.
You also need to provide evidence of your income and savings, for example, recent wage slips. Only original documents can be accepted as evidence.
You must also be resident in the home you are claiming from. If your claim is successful, Housing Benefit will be awarded from the Monday after receipt of your claim.
When you are in receipt of Housing Benefit you must inform the Housing Benefit Section of any changes in your circumstances. It is now a criminal offence not to do this.
You must also ensure that you return any renewal form that is sent to you quickly. Housing Benefit only lasts for between 26 – 60 weeks. If you do not return your form, your claim will end.
Housing Services' staff will be pleased to assist you with the completion of Housing Benefit forms or arrange a home visit by Benefits’ staff if necessary.
