Your rent
Ways to pay your rent
Direct Debit
We recommend setting up a Direct Debit to pay your rent. You can set up a Direct Debit to pay monthly, every two weeks or weekly from the 1st to 28th of each month. Weekly Direct Debits will be taken every Monday.
We collect 4 weeks' rent on any date from 1st to 28th of each month, and you still have the benefit of your 'No rent due' weeks.
Call us on the following numbers with your bank details:
- 0300 300 6652 weekly/fortnightly/4 weekly collection on a Monday
- 0300 300 5186 for the 1st to the 11th of each month
- 0300 300 6855 from the 12th to the 19th of each month
- 0300 300 8418 from the 20th to 28th of each month
If we are unavailable, please email your contact details to housingbusinessteam@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk and we will contact you at the earliest opportunity.
Pay online
You can pay online using our secure payments service. Please note that payments you have made in the past few days may not show on your account. If you're unsure of the amount to pay, please call 0300 300 8042 or email incomemanagementteam@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.
Other ways to pay
You can also pay by:
- phone: call 0300 300 8042
- Allpay card: these can be used at Pay Points using cash or debit cards; email housingbusinessteam@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk to order one
If you're not paying by Direct Debit
Remember to:
- check your balance prior to payment
- check your rental charge
- pay your rent on time
- increase your payments if your rent is increased
- pay on a Monday, if you pay weekly, to avoid falling behind
Have you updated Universal Credit?
From Monday 1 April 2024, you need to update your Universal Credit journal of your 2024/2025 rental liability.
As we can't do it for you, it’s important that you let the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) know your rent change so it can raise your Universal Credit to cover the increase. It’s also important to know that the DWP will not backdate past a month, so now's the time to make the change.
If you have an online journal, log in to your Universal Credit account and click your 'to-do' list. From there, click on report changes to your housing costs, and update the rest, remembering:
- housing costs changed on 1 April 2024
- you are charged weekly for your rent (and service charge where relevant)
- your rent increase letter will show you your new rent
If you manage your Universal Credit over the phone, you will need to let the DWP know.
Find out more about updating your journal.
Remember
Rent is charged weekly as per your tenancy agreement.
It is important you make regular and timely rent payments to sustain your tenancy with us.
If you are on a low income, you may be eligible for support to help you pay your rent. The benefits available are Universal Credit or Housing Benefit, depending on individual circumstances. You can find out if you're eligible by visiting the GOV.UK website. If you're unsure of what to claim, please contact us on 0300 300 8042.
Every one of our tenants has an Income Management Officer, who will be able to advise and signpost according to your circumstances. If for any reason you are unable to pay your rent, please contact our Income Management Team on 0300 300 8042 or email incomemanagementteam@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.