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Council housing - rents

As a tenant one of your main responsibilities is to pay your rent on time. This is important as we rely on your rent to pay for vital services such as repairs to your home.

Should you have a query concerning rent, click on the question you are interested in below.

Alternatively, if you have a specific query which cannot be answered by accessing the links below, e-mail: rev.ben@durhamcity.gov.uk

Frequently asked questions about the rent service

1. How do I know what the rent for my home is?
2. When am I due to pay rent?
3. Where can I pay my rent?
4. Can I pay rent through the post?
5. Can I pay rent over the telephone by debit or credit card?
6. Can I pay my rent through the post?
7. Am I entitled to help towards paying the rent?
8. What about rent increases?
9. What if I do not pay my rent on time?

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1. How do I know what the rent for my home is?

You will be sent a letter at the beginning of each financial year telling you what rent you have to pay. If the rent you pay changes, e.g. because you have been granted housing benefit, or there is a change in your benefit you will be sent a letter telling you.

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2. When am I due to pay rent?

Your rent is due weekly over 48 weeks of the year. The remaining four weeks of the year are rent free. These weeks will normally be the first week in April, the first week in June and Christmas and New Year. Details will be shown on your rent notification letter.

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3. Where can I pay my rent?

A collector will call at your house each week or you can pay at the following offices:

Durham CityInfo Annand House, John Street Meadowfield Durham

Durham CityInfo 17 Claypath Durham

Durham CityInfo Linden Centre Linden Grove Coxhoe Durham DH6 4DW

The opening hours for these offices are 8:30am to 5:00pm (Monday to Thursday) and 8:30am to 4:30pm (Friday).

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4. Can I pay my rent through the bank?

Yes. There are two main ways to pay; direct debit or standing order. Direct debit payments are cheaper to collect and help keep costs down. It is a convenient way to pay, no time is wasted writing or posting cheques or standing in queues and you are given advance notice of how much will be debited from your account. An immediate refund is given in the unlikely event that anything should go wrong.

If you want to pay by direct debit please contact us.

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5. Can I pay my rent over the telephone by debit or credit card?

Yes. You can ring telephone number 0191 301 8558 and a member of staff will take your details. Please make sure you have your rent reference. (Any credit card payment of 100 or more will be subject to a 2% fee).

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6. Can I pay my rent by post?

Yes. You can send a cheque or postal order to our Meadowfield office. Please make sure that you let us know what the payment is for by quoting your reference number.

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7. What about increases in rent?

On occasion we may have to increase the rent that you pay. If we do we will write to you and give you 28 days notice before the rent actually goes up.

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8. Am I entitled to help towards paying the rent?

People with low incomes may qualify for housing benefit. This helps towards the rent you pay, and depending on your circumstances, can meet your full rent charge (not water charges).

If you are not sure whether or not you qualify for housing benefit, make a claim. It costs nothing and if you qualify you could save money.

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9. What if I do not pay my rent on time?

When you sign your tenancy agreement you have made a legal contract with the Council to pay your rent on time. Like any other contract, if you do not pay, this will lead to court action which may ultimately result in you losing your home. It is vital that you pay your rent on time.

If you find, at any time, that you cannot meet your rent payments, do not leave it in the hope that the problem will go away, contact the Revenues section, who will be happy to advise you and discuss options for paying your arrears.