Harrogate Borough Council
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Paying Your Rent
There are several ways in which you can pay your rent:
At a Housing Office or Council Cash Office
You can pay your rent:
- By phone
- Online
- In Cash
- By Cheque
- By Postal Order
- By Direct Debit
You can pay your rent at any of the local Housing Offices.
At the start of your tenancy you will be sent a rent payment card. You will need this card until the end of your council tenancy. If you choose to pay by Direct Debit or don't pay rent please do not throw the card away.
Paying at the Post Office
You can pay your rent by cash or cheque at any Post Office in the Harrogate District. Please note that if you are paying at a Post Office, you must pay by the end of Thursday for the payment to reach your rent account that week. Please take your payment card with you.
Paying at any retailer showing the Paypoint or Payzone logo
You may also pay at any retailer in the United Kingdom displaying the Paypoint or Payzone logo. There are several shops, newsagents and garages in the Harrogate District that have this service. Please pay by the end of Thursday to ensure that you are not in arrears. Please take your payment card with you.
By Post
You can send cheques or Postal Orders through the post to one of the Area Housing Offices. Please make them payable to "Harrogate Borough Council" and remember to write your name, address and your rent reference number on the back of your cheque. (Please do NOT send your payment card). We will send you a receipt for your payment by return of post. If you are paying for a garage please make this clear and remember to give the reference number for the garage and not your home. Please note, however, that Ripon Cash Office is not open every day and there may be a delay before a receipt is sent to you.
By Direct Debit
If you have a bank account, you can pay your rent by monthly Direct Debit. When you start paying by Direct Debit the Council will give you £10 which will be paid directly into your rent account. (This £10 will be reclaimed if your Direct Debit is stopped by you within a 12 month period). This will only be paid once. When you pay by Direct Debit the Council will work out how much rent you have to pay for the whole year and divide it by 12 equal instalments and the money will come out of your bank account on about the 15th of each month. Your local Housing Office can advise you how much your payments will be.
If your rent changes during the year as a result of housing benefit, this figure will be recalculated by the Council for the remaining instalments and you will be sent a letter telling you what the new monthly payment will be.
By Bank Standing Order
If you have a current account, you can set up a Standing Order through your bank or building society to pay your rent weekly or monthly. If your rent changes whilst you are paying by Standing Order, you must contact the bank or building society and ask them to change the amount to be paid. There is a time delay in the money being taken from your bank account and reaching your rent account by this method. So you may be asked to make extra payments in advance to ensure that your rent account does not fall into arrears whilst the Standing Order is being set up.
By deduction from your wages or salary
If you work for the Council you can arrange for your rent to be deducted from your salary or wages. Please ask your Housing Management Officer for details.
Non-rent weeks
There are several weeks each year when you do not have to pay rent if you use your payment card unless your account is in arrears. These weeks are marked on your rent card.
If you have arrears you must pay your rent in the rent free weeks.
Help with paying your rent
If you need help paying your rent you may be entitled to Housing Benefit or your Housing Officer could give you advice and assistance on paying your rent.
Repaying your rent
If you are in arrears we will try and reach a realistic agreement for you to repay the amount due over a period of time. The Council follows a legal procedure to recover arrears.