Frequently Asked Questions
How will I know how much rent to pay?
We will send you a letter in March each year which will tell you
how much your rent will be for the coming year starting in
April. The letter will show you how your rent has been
calculated. See our page on How is my Rent Calculated. If you have
district heating the charge will also be shown on your
letter, along with any supporting people charges such as
wardens service or community alarm.
Am I entitled to any Rent Free Weeks?
Each year you will get 4 weeks when rent does not have to be
paid. Although if you are in arrears you will still have to
pay on your rent free weeks, this will enable you to catch up with
any missed payments or reduce any outstanding arrears.
Your Rent Free Weeks for 2011-2012 are:-
- 29 August 2011
- 26 December 2011
- 2 January 2012
- 26 March 2012
What is my rent used for?
Your weekly rent covers the cost of providing you with your
home and our services including repairs and maintenance, lettings
and allocations, rent recovery and estate maintenance.
How do I make a payment?
Payments can be made in several ways, by direct debit, online,
at any Cash Office, at the Post Office, by post and by
telephone. Please refer to our page Make a Payment for further details of these
services. You will always receive a receipt for any payments
you make in person, please keep these safe and make sure the amount
paid is correct.
When will I receive a Rent Statement?
All rent payments made are recorded on our computer system and
you will be sent a rent statement by post every three months.
Should you require a statement at any other time then these can be
requested by telephone to your local office refer to our Contacts Directory or
in person at any cash office (please bring your rent payment card
with you)
What can I do if I think there is a mistake on my Rent
Account?
If you think there has been a mistake on your rent account
please contact your local area office who will be happy
to check your account, you may be asked to provide receipts for any
payments you have made so these can be checked against your
account.
How do I Apply for Housing Benefit?
You will need to fill in a Housing Benefit application form
these can be obtained from any of our local area offices see our
Contacts
Directory or by clicking on the link below for a
downloadable version from the Housing Benefit website.
Once you have completed your form you may hand it back into your
local area office who will stamp it with the date received and
forward it to the Housing Benefits Section who are based at
Colonnades House on Duke Street, Doncaster. Further
details on making a Housing Benefit claim and obtaining
an application form can be obtained through the link
below:
Click here for more information on Housing
Benefits
What will you do if I fall into rent arrears?
We will arrange to contact you and ask you to
attend an interview to discuss your problem we can also carry out a
home visit if you find if difficult to get into one of our local
offices. We will do all we can to advise you and to agree a
manageable repayment agreement that you will be able to stick
to.
If you do not keep to a repayment agreement
you have made with us then you may be served with a 'Notice of
Seeking Possession' for breach of your Tenancy Agreement. If
you still fail to pay your rent we will apply to the County Court
for possession of your home. If we go to Court:
- you will have to pay court costs
- you will have to leave your home if ordered to by the
Court
- you will still have to pay the debt even if your leave your
home
- you may be considered intentionally homeless and as such will
not be rehoused by us or any other council or housing
association