It is important to keep up to date with your rent payments and seek help as soon as possible if you encounter problems with paying your rent. The following charter sets out how we intend to collect your rent and what standards you can expect from us.

How do I pay my rent?

There are a number of ways to pay your rent such as by:

• Cash

• Cheque

• On the Internet  - Click here for London Borough of Lambeth   website, and follow the instructions.

• Switch or debit card

• Standing Order

Standing order is our preferred option since it offers many advantages such as-

Once you have agreed to pay by standing order, payments will be made automatically from your bank account.You will no longer have to remember to pay each week

You can put the worry of overlooking a payment, perhaps due to illness or being on holiday

We offer a £10 gift voucher incentive for choosing this method

Please remember to retain all receipts of payments, since some payments do go missing, but can easily be traced.

How will I be able to check my rent account balance?

Rent statements are sent out automatically every year. You may also contact the estate office and request a copy at anytime. A rent statement is generally delivered by hand on the day in which the request is made.

What do I do if I have lost my payment card?

Don’t worry.  A payment card can be issued on request.

Rent and Introductory Tenancies

If you are an introductory resident, we will complete a number of home visits to ensure you have not encountered any difficulties managing your tenancy.  Managing your rent account is one difficulty we intend to identify at an early stage to ensure you do not lose your home.  A member of staff will visit you within 2 MONTHS of you moving into your home and again after nine months if necessary. We will of course, visit you more frequently, if we agree that on going supervision is required. Our primary concern is to ensure you keep your home.

Help with paying your rent

If you need help paying your rent you may be entitled to Housing Benefit. Housing Benefit can give you advice and assistance on your benefit entitlement and can be contacted direct on 020 7649 9311 or visit London Borough of Lambeth  

Repaying your rent

Rent arrears are what you owe in unpaid rent and are caused by late, missing or part payments.  Lots of residents have problems paying their bills because of personal problems.  It can happen to anyone and is generally for reasons out of the individual’s control, ill health, being made redundant etc.  Paying your rent however, is a priority.

I am in rent arrears, what shall I do?

1) Contact the estate office as soon as possible. We may suggest an interview that will allow us to

• Talk about the problems causing the arrears.

• Give advice on what you can do and if necessary make referrals to other agencies.

• Agree a way you can afford to pay what you owe.

The minimum we will accept is £2.90 (2007 RATE) each week for those in receipt of welfare benefits. For residents who work, an agreement will be made relative to your income.  If you do not make an agreement to clear your arrears or an agreement is not maintained, we will initiate court proceedings.

Details of any actions agreed will be confirmed in writing the same day.

2) Talk to a debt advisor.  We can arrange for you to contact ‘twin pier’ an independent debt advisory organization who works in partnership with Lambeth Council.  Alternatively you can contact the National Debt Helpline free on 0808 808 4000 or visit National Debtline

We can also provide contact details of the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB). The CAB is able to provide confidential benefit and assessment advice and debt counselling or visit Citizens Advice Bureau 

What happens if I ignore my rent arrears?

Not paying your rent is not an option since it will result in you losing your home.

What actions will be taken to recover the debt?

Early arrears between 1 and 2 weeks: We will notify you by letter and/or telephone that your account is in arrears and request you bring your account up to date within 7 days.

3-4 weeks of rent owed: We will write and invite you in for an interview or arrange a home visit.

5 weeks plus of rent owed: A Notice of Seeking Possession (NOSP) will be served.  A NOSP is a legal document and is the first steps towards you giving up possession of your home.  It should be taken seriously,

8 weeks plus of rent owed: If you are in arrears 28 days after the service of a NOSP and no contact is made, we will make an application to the court. Once the court date is received an appointment or home interview will be arranged.

Please note the above recovery action is irrespective of a Resident being in receipt of welfare benefit or not.

Any residents in rent arrears will not be entitled to a parking permit and, where applicable, will have their transfer application de-authorised until their rent account is clear.  

Can I get my rent paid directly out of my benefit?

Yes. In certain circumstances where the resident is having difficulties paying their rent we may apply for the rent to be deducted straight from their benefit. The amount deducted will generally be current rent plus £2.90 (2007 RATE) each week  towards the arrears.    

What will happen at court?

• If you have made a pre-court arrangement to clear your arrears we will ask for this to be acknowledged by the court.  We will agree to what is referred to as a ‘Postponed Possession Order’ (PPO), whereby possession of your home is postponed on the agreed terms. We will also ask for costs of the court application to be awarded as part of the Judgment.  No further action will be taken however, unless the court agreement is broken.  For further information please visit HMCourts Service               

What if I break the court order?

This could have serious consequences on you losing your home.

• You will lose your secure tenancy and become what is referred to as a ‘tolerated trespasser’ in your home.

• You will also lose all your rights as a council resident including the right to buy and the right to register for a transfer.

• We may go back to court and request that the order obtained is enforced. This may result in you losing your home.

What are the benefits of me paying my rent on time?

Paying your rent every week and on time provides a number of benefits and discounts. A handbook of all information available to those who do pay is available from the estate office.

Additionally, BGRMO will enter all residents who have a clear or credit on their rent account at the end of the financial year in to a prize draw to have a room of their choice decorated completely free of charge to the value of £150.00. We will provide both materials and labour as recognition of you being a good rent payer.

For information concerning benefit rates/advice please visit:  Rightsnet