Paying rent

How do I pay my rent?

On the LBHF website, via a secure link, go to the online payments page.
By automated phone system using your credit or debit card. 020 8753 1930 – 24 hours
By phone, contact the cashiers on 020 8753 1839/2571
In person at Hammersmith Town Hall
By cash or cheque at your local post office using your housing charges payment card or book
By Standing Order or Direct Debit
By post to: Rent Accounts, 1st floor, Riverview House, Beavor Lane, London W6 9AR. Cheques and postal orders must be made payable to London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Please ensure you write your name and pay reference number on the reverse

What if I am having problems paying?

Call your housing officer immediately who can advise you what to do next.

Housing Offices –
South Fulham 020 7386 6000
Fulham North 020 7385 3355
South Hammersmith 020 8753 4427
Hammersmith North 020 8753 4400

So what am I paying?

The council sets the amount of the weekly housing charges for all council tenants. The total amount includes:

Rent for your home (This charge is for providing, managing and maintaining your home.)
Water rates (Water rates are set by the water companies, and the council collects them on their behalf.)
Heating charges (If you have a shared or district heating system with other residents, a charge for this is included with your rent. You may be entitled to a rebate if the system fails for more than 48 consecutive hours. If you have any other form of central heating, you pay directly to the gas or electricity suppliers.)

Rent Arrears:

It is the council's clear duty as a landlord to take effective action to secure payment of rent. We will make every possible effort to encourage and enable you to pay your rent.

If you persistently fail to pay your rent however, we will take you to court to evict you.

If you are evicted you are likely to be declared intentionally homeless if you apply for re-housing. That means that this, or any other authority, will not re-house you. Even after eviction, you will be vigorously pursued to recover your debt.

Remember:

The council has a duty to those tenants who do pay their rent – because they will have to pay more to cover the cost of the debt. Continuously high levels of arrears could affect the services that can be provided by the council.
Tenants who have owed less than £100 have been successfully taken to court and evicted. Those who have to be taken to court have to pay court costs which are added to their debt.

How do I prevent getting behind with my rent?

Pay your rent when it is due, which is every Monday. If you want to make other arrangements to pay e.g. by standing order, monthly or fortnightly payment, these must be paid in advance.
Tenants on Income Support must apply for Housing Benefit to cover their rent. You must re-apply before your benefit expires, if you are not sure about the expiry date check with the Housing Benefit section. Otherwise your claim will expire and you will be responsible for the payment of the full rent and the full council tax. This is also applicable if you are on any other type of state benefit or low income as you may be entitled to money off your rent.

If you run into any difficulties or find you are not coping you must tell your local area Housing Office or contact Housing Benefits immediately. Help – financial or otherwise – cannot always be given retrospectively. There are people you can talk to and assistance available – do not ignore the problem. If you cannot repay the debt immediately, you may be able to arrange to pay something extra in addition to your rent. This will help you to pay off the debt gradually and prevent further action being taken. But this has to be done in discussion with your housing officer and any agreement made must be adhered to.

Changes in your circumstances

You must tell the Housing Benefit section if:

You start work
You stop receiving Income Support or other benefits
You change to a different type of benefit
Your income changes
There are any changes in your household (if someone moves in or moves out, starts work or reaches 18 years of age)
There are any other financial changes

The Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) will not tell us this information automatically – it is your responsibility to do so.

If you do not tell us immediately, this means you will be overpaid Housing Benefit and this overpayment will be recovered either from your future benefit or through court action. When we find out, your Housing Benefit will be stopped and you will have to pay the full rent. Non disclosure of information may affect future benefit claims.

So, remind me, what else do I have to pay?

All tenants have to pay water rates, even if you are on Income Support
All tenants with district heating systems must pay their heating charges, even those on Income Support
Council Tax is not automatically covered even if you are on benefits, you may have to apply for Council Tax benefit separately

Remember:

Benefits cannot be paid until you move in (and you must move in by the date your tenancy starts or you may lose your Housing Benefit entitlement)
We cannot pay Housing Benefit on two properties
Please tell us immediately if your rent book runs out
Finally, if you have any problems with paying your rent, understanding forms, or there are any changes in your circumstances, tell your housing officer immediately

Having money troubles can make you very anxious, but help is available. A housing officer can visit your home if you wish, and they are always prepared to listen as well as being trained to give you the right advice and support to help you deal with any problems you may have.

Click here to go to the Debt Management page

Useful contacts:

(For independent legal advice, or to talk to someone about your debts, including help with budgeting your money, visit your local Citizens Advice Bureau):

Hammersmith & Fulham Citizens Advice Bureau –
0845 458 2515

www.fulhamcab.org.uk

Shepherds Bush Advice Centre –
020 8753 5933 / 5910