Rent and other charges

The information on this page relates to residents with assured tenancies only.

Gross Rent – This is the total of your Basic Rent and Service Charge

Basic Rent

Your rent is set by Elim Housing and is reviewed annually. The rent charged is to cover the costs of providing the accommodation.  However, we endeavour to set and maintain rents at levels, which are within the reach of people on low incomes. Your rent is fixed at the start of your tenancy and is re-assessed annually in accordance with the government’s rent restructuring formula. 

You will receive at least one month’s notice of the annual rent increase.

Appeals

After the first increase has taken effect, you have the right to appeal to your local Rent Assessment Committee, which will determine what it considers to be a ‘market rent’ for the property. 
(NB, This is likely to be higher than the one we set.You are therefore, advised to inspect the register of rents set by the Rent Assessment Committee for similar properties in your area before you decide whether or not to appeal).

Service Charge

In addition to the basic rent, a service charge may be payable to cover the cost of items such as cleaning, lighting and heating of communal areas, gardening, window cleaning etc. 

These costs are reviewed annually at the same time as the rent and any change in the cost of services will be notified to you in writing at least one month in advance of the change. A schedule showing the service(s) provided and the cost of each service, is provided annually, and is available from the office on request.

Appeals

You may appeal to the Residential Property Tribunal Service if you object to the service charge.  Grounds for an appeal are that the service charged for is not provided or is not up to standard and does not represent value for money. Court costs may be payable by you.

Payment of Rent

The rent should be paid weekly in advance. However, if you prefer to pay fortnightly or monthly this is acceptable as long as it is paid in ADVANCE and NOT in arrears.

There are two main methods of payment:-

• by allpay card at any of the paypoint shop outlets
• by direct debit order through a Bank/Building Society
• in certain circumstances it may be acceptable to send cheques (BUT NOT CASH) to the Rudgeway office although this is not generally recommended.

Rent statements showing all transactions during a specific quarter will be sent to you every 3 months. Please check them carefully and contact us if you have any queries.  If you have difficulties in paying your rent, then please contact the office immediately.

Claiming Housing Benefit

If you are eligible for housing benefit, it is essential that you make a claim as soon after signing your tenancy agreement as possible. We expect all new tenants to complete housing benefit forms and provide all information within 7 days of the start of their tenancy. This is a priority.

You are responsible for claiming housing benefit, and should ensure that it is paid promptly. Elim Housing would expect housing benefit payments to be made direct to us. However, it is your responsibility to ensure that housing benefit is being paid as it is your rent.

You should then take or send the form to the local housing benefit office.  If you take the form to an office you must get a receipt. You may be asked to provide the receipt as proof that you have made a claim. The following information must be included with the housing benefit form:-

• The original new tenancy agreement
  
• Proof of any income that you receive – ie. wage slips, income support book, disability allowance, pension, etc

Income support or JSA is separate from housing benefit.  You must inform the Benefits Agency of your change of address as a matter of urgency.  The council cannot pay housing benefit on your behalf if they are not informed by the Benefits Agency that you are living at this address and in receipt of a welfare benefit.

If your housing benefit does not cover the full rent, then the shortfall will have to be met by you.  You should also inform the housing benefit department of any changes in your circumstances, which may affect your entitlement to housing benefit.

If you fail to claim housing benefit or do not provide necessary information within 14 days of the start of your tenancy and you do not make any payments towards your rent you will be issued with a Notice Seeking Possession and steps will be taken to end your tenancy.

Rent Arrears

Each tenant is responsible for ensuring that their rent is paid.  High levels of rent arrears will not be tolerated, so please let us know immediately if you have difficulty in paying your rent. We are here to help and give advice.  Arrears are easier to deal with while they are small.

If you do not make an arrangement to pay your arrears or keep to your agreement and all else has failed Elim Housing will issue a legal Notice, which may lead to an application to the County Court for a possession order.  This could result in you being charged court costs and losing your home, which we would wish to avoid if at all possible. It may also affect your ability to obtain credit.

Possession

We will not normally seek to recover possession of your home unless you have broken a condition of the tenancy agreement (which includes non-payment of rent) and only then if the situation cannot be resolved any other way.

An eviction order can only be granted after a court order has been obtained for possession. We will not seek a court order without your knowledge. You will be notified of our actions at each stage.

If you are unsure of your rights, you should approach your local Citizens Advice Bureau, Housing Aid Centre or a Solicitor for legal advice.