How to pay your rent – My Life Charity

🏠 How to pay your rent

Life offers supported accommodation as a registered social landlord. This guidance outlines the rent charge process to help you understand how rent is calculated, paid, and managed.

Moving in

When you sign your licence agreement your Support Worker will share with you the following information:

A copy of your rent breakdown
How you can pay your rent
How to claim housing benefit
How to obtain a rent statement
The rent arrears procedure
Moving on from Life and debt collector process
Our complaints procedure

How to pay your rent

You will need to start paying your rent as soon as you move into the property. Your Support Worker will arrange a first payment date with you, which is typically aligned with the day you receive your pay or benefits. You will also receive a rent breakdown sheet detailing the charges included in your rent. Payments can either be made weekly or monthly – please check the amount with your Support Worker.

You can make your rent payments via standing order or bank transfer to the following account:

Name of bank: Natwest
New account name: Life 2009 T/A Life Head office
New account number: 62958372
Branch sort code: 60-12-35

Alternatively, you can made a card payment by calling our National Office on 01926 312272.

In accordance with other housing providers, rents will be increased every April. You will receive a letter annually to notify you of the increase and provide a new rent breakdown.

How to claim housing benefit

Housing Benefit is a financial assistance program in the UK aimed at helping individuals with low incomes pay their rent. If you are claiming Universal Credit, your eligible rent is typically covered. You can use an online benefits calculator, such as “entitled to,” to complete a benefits check to see what you are entitled to. Your Support Worker can assist you with this process.

To claim Housing Benefit in the UK your support worker will help you to follow these steps:

Check Eligibility: Complete a benefits check with your support worker to check eligibility and entitlement amount. You must be living in the UK to claim housing benefit.
Gather Necessary Documents: You’ll need to provide evidence such as proof of income, savings, rent, and identity
Apply: Your support worker will help you apply for housing benefit through the local council website (NB: ensure you obtain proof of your Housing Benefit application)
Backdating and Appeals: You can ask your council to backdate your claim from the day you move in. If you’re unhappy with a decision, you can challenge it by requesting a review or appealing at a tribunal

You will be required to update housing benefit with any changes of circumstances during the term of your licence – this includes births, change of address, change of employment, change in wage or benefit payments. Your support worker can help you send this information to the benefits team. Failure to provide them with an update can see your housing benefit being suspended until this information is provided

Rent statements

Every month, you will receive a rent statement that details any arrears or credit on your account. If you need a rent statement at any other time, you can request one through your support worker or Area Services Coordinator. Keep in mind that housing benefit payments are always made a month in arrears, so this part of your account will always appear as in arrears.

Your Support Worker will also offer sessions to help you read and understand your rent statement as part of your support.

Rent arrears procedure

If your financial situation has changed since you signed your licence please speak to your support worker and they will be able to talk this through with you in order to work out a way for you to feel on top of things again. If helpful you and your support worker can spend some time together looking at what you have coming in and going out, to help you to meet all of your financial commitments now and in the future.

It is important that you take this opportunity to deal with these arrears before they become unmanageable or you start to feel overwhelmed. Any difficulties you may have paying the arrears should be shared with support staff as soon as possible.

If you fall into rent arrears, here are the steps that will be followed:

Initial Contact: The Area Services Coordinator will contact you to discuss the situation and explore options for repayment.
Rent letters: The Area Services Coordinator will look to issue a rent letter after you reach 6 weeks of arrears.
Repayment Plan: If you are unable to pay the arrears owed in one payment please don’t worry as payment plan can be agreed to clear the arrears. Any agreed payment plan will be followed up in writing so you have a copy to refer to as needed. A copy will also be kept on your records to ensure there is no confusion at a later date. Please speak to your support worker if you would like to discuss a payment plan.
Renter’s Assistance: Information about local renter assistance programs will be provided, which might be able to help you.
Notice to Quit: If arrears continue after three letters are issues with no payment plan in place, you may receive a notice to quit which can effect any future housing options.

It is important that you take the opportunity to deal with any arrears before they become unmanageable or you start to feel overwhelmed. Any difficulties you may have paying the arrears should be shared with support staff as soon as possible.

Moving on from Life

Before you move on from Life, your support worker will conduct a move-on session to complete the exit paperwork. During this session, your rent account will be reviewed to check for any outstanding rent owed.

If you have any outstanding rent, you will be asked to make a final payment or set up a payment plan. After you have moved on, you will also receive a rent arrears invoice from the finance team.

Your support worker will assist you in determining an affordable monthly payment amount. The finance team will be informed of the payment plan, and you will receive a copy of the form. Any rent arrears payments can be made into the same account you have been using for your rent payments.

Debt collectors

If you do not agree on a payment plan when you move out or if you default on your agreed payment plan, you will receive a second arrears invoice. This will be your final opportunity to agree on a payment plan and start making payments. If you have any concerns or need assistance with managing your payments, don’t hesitate to reach out to your support worker.

If no further payments are made or if there are additional defaults on the payment plan, the debt will be passed on to a debt collection agency. The agency will contact you directly to arrange payment or to agree on a new payment plan. Please note that the debt amount will increase once it is handled by the debt collection agency.

Financial support agencies

National Debt Line: www.nationaldebtline.org – 0808 808 4000
Citizen Advise: www.citizensadvice.org.uk – 0800 144 8848
Step Change: www.stepchange.org – 0800 138 1111
Food banks: www.trussell.org.uk
Benefits calculator: www.entitledto.co.uk
Universal Credit: 0800 328 5644

Complaints procedure

If you have any complaints regarding the rent process, you can raise them through Life’s complaints procedure on their website: www.lifecharity.org.uk/complaints.

We want to do everything possible to support you to maintain your tenancy in a Life House and use this opportunity to build a life in which you are safe, happy and can thrive.