Rent and other payments
7.1
Your tenancy will commence on the day you sign your Tenancy Agreement. Your first rent payment is due at the start of your tenancy. Your rent is then due every Monday for the week ahead. If you wish to pay your rent over longer periods, for example monthly or fortnightly, you must pay in advance for the fortnight or month ahead.
7.2
The rent you pay includes a weekly charge for water rates and sewerage charges. It may also include service charges and charges for home insurance and furniture. Your rent is charged over 52/53 weeks in the year.
7.3
If you hold a joint tenancy, each tenant is equally responsible for the payment of the whole of the rent and any other payments due. This means that if one joint tenant fails to pay, the other(s) must pay the whole amount.
7.4
We can use any money we owe you to pay off any of your housing-related debts, such as rent arrears, arrears from a previous tenancy, housing benefit overpayments, or rechargeable repair costs.
7.5
Whenever we change your rent we will give you four weeks’ written notice unless the change is a result of a change in your housing benefit.
7.6
We will alter other charges, such as shared heating, separately from any changes to the rent.
7.7
We will not increase the rent as a result of any improvements you have made to the property. However, you must get our permission and any other approval you need by law before doing the work.
7.8
If you receive housing benefit, you must tell our housing benefit team immediately of any change of circumstance that may affect your entitlement to it.
7.9
You must contact us if you are having difficulty paying your rent or any other payments. We can give you help and advice.
7.10
If you do not pay your rent or other charges, we may ask the court to evict you from your home. The court may order you to pay our costs.
7.11
If you decide to end your tenancy you must pay any rent, other charges or tenancy related costs you owe us before the tenancy ends.
7.12
You can pay your rent in several ways. We encourage you to pay by direct debit, as it is the quickest, easiest and most cost-effective way.