Your Rent

As part of any pre-letting interview, all tenants will be advised of their responsibility to pay the rent and the different payment methods available. CTH staff will also issue housing benefit forms and assist with completion.

When is my rent due?

Rents are due weekly in advance. An account will be considered to be in arrears if:

• full payment has not been received by close of business on the last Friday of the fortnightly accounting cycle in which it is due.; or
• some other agreement has been entered into with the Trust.

Paying your Rent

Rent payments can be made by the following methods:

• by cheque
• by credit card
• by standing order
• at a pay point
• at a post office
• at a bank

Rent payment cards are distributed to all tenants annually or more frequently as required. For more information, see Ways To Pay Your Rent

Action for non-payment

CTH has comprehensive procedures for rent arrears recovery giving full details of the action to be taken and a timetable for this action.

The main points are:

• a home visit and financial assessment will be undertaken for all tenants whose arrears total equates to two weeks or more of the gross rent
• a check will be made with housing benefits to see whether there is an outstanding claim
• a notice of seeking possession will usually be served when the outstanding arrears total equates to four weeks or more of the gross rent payable (unless there are extenuating circumstances, for example, hospitalisation of the tenant, death of a member of the household, severe illness or infirmity)
• court action will be commenced if following the serving of a notice seeking possession the outstanding debt total continues to increase and no arrangement has been made to clear the arrears;
• a check will be made to see if other agencies are involved with the tenant(s) e.g. social services and if so these agencies will be contacted;
• A suspended possession order will usually be requested at the court hearing (unless there are extenuating circumstances)

The procedure emphasises the need for personal contact with tenants throughout the debt recovery process.

Housing benefit

CTH will liaise with the relevant housing benefit office on the payment of benefit to its tenants. CTH will always seek to have housing benefit paid directly to the Trust. CTH will endeavour to set up service level agreements with the council, which formalises standards of service delivery, and this will be reviewed regularly.

Social services

CTH will liaise with the relevant social services department in all cases where repossession is being considered especially where there are dependent children or other potentially vulnerable people affected.

Benefits Agency

CTH will liaise with the Benefits Agency on matters relating to direct payment for rent arrears from income support.

Joint tenancies

CTH will treat all joint tenants as jointly and severally responsible for rent arrears on the account (except in extenuating circumstances).