Why it is important to pay your rent

• Rent is the money you pay to Swindon Borough Council for your home and the other housing related services you receive.
• It is a weekly charge that is due in advance every Monday and it is the responsibility of tenants to ensure it is paid on time.
• We are happy for you to pay weekly, fortnightly or monthly, but these payments must always be fully in advance.

You should pay your rent for two main reasons:

1. It forms part of your legally binding tenancy agreement and it pays for the service we provide to you.

The rents we collect enable us to:

• Carry out repairs.
• Manage your home.
• Keep your estate clean and tidy.
• Improve your home, eg, new kitchens, bathrooms and doors.
• Make minor estate improvements, bring our homes up to the "decent homes" standard
• Provide Neighbourhood Wardens.

2. The benefits of a clear rent account are that you will be able to:

• Transfer to another property if you are on the transfer list and make a successful bid.
• Exchange homes with another Council or Housing Association.
• Obtain a good financial reference from us if you want to buy your home.
• Qualify for improvements to your home such as a new kitchen or bathroom, when they are planned in your area.
• Automatically be entered into the incentive draw with quarterly reward payments of 1 x £500 and 5 x £100.
• Have your introductory tenancy made secure after 12 months, giving you more rights and security.

Ways to pay your rent

• Direct debits (monthly on 1st, 5th, 15th, 21st or 27th):
  The Direct Debit mandate form is available as a downloadable PDF file:
  Housing Rent Direct Debit Mandate (156Kb)
• Online: please see Do It Online
• Rent Payment Card at 'Paypoint' outlets and the Post Office.
  For your nearest 'Paypoint' outlet, please see the Paypoint website (www.paypoint.com/locator).
• Phone: payments by debit or credit cards 24 hour line 0845 603 5058
• Post: Please make cheques payable to 'Swindon Borough Council' and send them to:
  Swindon Borough Council
  Civic Offices
  Euclid Street
  Swindon
  SN1 2JH
• Payments at Swindon Direct:
  Monday to Wednesday and Friday, 8.00am-6.00pm
  Thursday 8.00am-8.00pm
  Saturday 9.00am-1.00pm

Do you owe rent? We can help

Do you need help coping with rent arrears and other debts? If so, contact your Neighbourhood Housing Officer today on 01793 445503, before things get worse. The sooner you talk to us, the sooner we can help.

• If you are unable to clear the arrears in full, we will try and make an arrangement with you to clear your arrears over a reasonable period of time.
• If you have high arrears or multiple debts, then our Tenancy Sustainment Officers can offer advice and support.

If you are receiving Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance or Pension Credits, we can arrange for a direct deduction to be made from your benefit automatically, so you know the arrears are being paid off.

If you need help with your housing benefit, your Neighbourhood Housing Officer will be able to offer some help and advice. Alternatively, the Housing Benefit Office can be contacted on 0845 850 0962 (local call rate). To talk to a customer services officer, or to make an appointment, call at Swindon Direct, at the junction of Princes Street and Beckhampton Street, to discuss the matter face to face with an advisor.

If you are entitled to Housing Benefit, ensure you provide all documentary evidence as soon as possible to prove your claim. If you do not provide documents in time, your claim may not be paid in full and could be left with arrears that you will be responsible for.

What happens if I do not pay my rent?

Rent is your number one debt and should be paid first before your other bills to ensure you keep a roof over your head. You won't need to worry about your electricity bill if you don't have your home!

If you do not pay your rent and do not contact us, then we will have no option but to take you to court to repossess your home. This is always a last resort as we would far rather help you to pay your rent and stay in your home, but sadly 25 households in Swindon were evicted by the Council for rent arrears in the last financial year (2008/09) and 200 households were taken to court for rent arrears, which incurred court costs to the tenant(s) of at least £100.

If you are evicted for rent arrears and it is decided that you have made yourself intentionally homeless, the Council has no need to rehouse you, even if you have a family. Other Councils and Housing Associations may take the same view.

If you are having difficulty paying your rent or think you may get into difficulty, get in touch with your Neighbourhood Housing Officer on 01793 445503 straight away.