All our tenancies start on a Monday. Your rent is payable weekly and in advance. Therefore your first week’s rent will be due on the day your tenancy starts, and you will need to pay a week’s rent in advance every Monday.
You can also pay your rent calendar monthly. You must remember to multiply the week’s rent by 52 (weeks in the year) and divide by 12 (months in the year). The Income Management Team can help you to calculate this. Rent paid monthly must still be paid in advance, to prevent you going into arrears at any time in the month. There is a useful rent calendar at the end of methods of payment.
Occasionally (about every four years) the rent year has 53 weeks instead of 52 weeks, to keep in line with the calendar year. When this happens, you need to calculate your monthly payment by multiplying by 53, not 52. We will warn you in advance when this occurs.
For security reasons:
- please never send cash through the post,
- We cannot accept cash payments at our offices
- our staff cannot accept rent payments while they are out on visits.
For information on how to pay rent please click on methods of payment.
Methods of Payment
Cannock Chase Council offer you various methods for you to pay your rent:-
- Direct Debit
- Standing Order (please see form below)
- Post Office
- Post
- Telephone - 01543 215020
- 24 hour automated telephone number 01543 215020
- Online Payment
- (Due to the national situation payzone is not currently available)
You will need your rent account number to pay your rent, this is shown in the bottom right hand corner of your rent card.
You can print the rent calendar below which you can use to check when the rent payment is due and also keep a record of your payments..
For further details, please contact the Income Management team on 01543 462621.
Direct Debits
How do I set up direct debit payments?
To take advantage of this easy payment option just contact us and one of our Officer will help you set up your direct debit.
What are the advantages of direct debit?
- No form is required set up the debit instruction all you have to do is ring the Income Management Team
- Unlike a standing order you do not have to complete a new form every time there's a change
- We make any changes needed once set up
- We always tell you in advance about any changes
- You are covered by the Direct Debit guarantee against any errors made by us or your bank
- You can cancel at any time
- You can choose two payment dates to suit you as long as your payments are always made in advance of rent due
- Details of payments made to us will show on your bank or building society statement. We will also send you a regular statement of account at least every quarter to help you check your account balance
- By paying in this way you help us keep costs down for everyone
- We can re-invest savings in service improvements which you will benefit from
What control do I have?
You are always in control. We tell you initially of the amounts and payment dates giving at least ten working days notice required by the Direct Debit scheme. The same applies to any changes made, we will always tell you about any changes in advance.
What if things go wrong?
You are protected by the Direct Debit guarantee so that if a payment is made in error from your account, either by us, or your bank or building society, you will get an immediate refund from your bank or building society. We then refund the payment back to them under the schemes indemnity cover. You are also entitled to cancel your Direct Debit at any time.
Rent Statement - Checking your balance
You can check your rent balance at any time by logging into your Self Service account. If you need help to do this, you can use our instructions on Cannock Chase Council Self Serve Home . You will receive two letters:
The first letter will have details for your User ID
The second letter will have your password
If you do not have a computer and require a rent statement please ring the Income Management Team on 01543 462621.
Housing Benefit
The Income Management Officers can offer general advice on Housing Benefits or for further information, please see Housing Benefits.
If you make a claim for housing benefit or the amount of benefit you receive changes, you should keep your Income Management Officer informed.
Citizens Advice offer FREE Debt Advice and financial planning.
When handing in a completed Housing Benefit form, ensure that you provide all of the documentation required and get a receipt to show that you have handed the form in.
If you are employed and in receipt of a low income, you may be entitled to some housing benefit, contact the Housing Benefit section for further details.
If you fail to take any action to get your rent paid and the arrears accrue, the COUNCIL WILL EVICT tenants for non-payment of rent.
Last Updated: 15/09/2020