When you signed your tenancy agreement with Fife Housing Group you entered into a legal agreement. This means you have various rights and responsibilities and one of these is to pay your rent and any service charges on time, every month – remember, rent is an obligation not an option!
In Part 1 of our ‘Make paying your rent a priority’ series, Debt Recovery Officer, Alison Young, answers some of the most common rent-related questions we hear from tenants.
When is my rent due?
Your rent is due on the 1st of every month. There are no ‘rent free’ weeks – your rent must be paid regularly without exception. If you are unsure of your monthly rental charge please contact our office on 01383 606162.
Can I pay my rent weekly/fortnightly/monthly/four weekly?
Yes, but you must speak to your Housing Officer to ensure you are paying the correct amount and have sufficient credit in your rent account to cover your rent charge on the 1st of each month.
How do I pay my rent?
Fife Housing Group offers numerous payment options at our office, online or over the phone. These include:
Direct debit
Standing order
Allpay card
Credit/Debit card
Cash
Cheque
Check out out Payments page for further information on these methods or contact your Housing Officer to discuss which option is best for you.
What if I am struggling to pay my rent?
If you are struggling to pay your rent, please don’t just ignore it and hope that the problem will go away as the worry will still be there, causing you stress. Instead, contact us as soon as possible to discuss your situation – early intervention really is the key to avoiding arrears and we are happy to offer support and advice. If we don’t know that you have a problem then there’s little we can do to help you resolve it.
Benefits: If your circumstances or household income have changed you may be entitled to financial assistance by claiming housing benefit – you can check if you are entitled to this by using the free online benefit calculator – www.entitledto.co.uk
If you are entitled to housing benefit, and have online access, you can complete the relevant form on Fife Council’s website – www.fifedirect.org.uk. Alternatively, you can contact us or your local Fife Council office and arrange an appointment to complete a housing benefit application. To confirm locations and opening hours for Fife Council see their website above.
Advice: If you are not entitled to housing benefit or are still struggling to make ends meet there are a number of free advice services available, such as Citizens’ Advice & Rights Fife (www.carfweb.org), who may be able to assist you further.
Employment: If you are unemployed and looking to return to work or retrain then Fife Works can help you by providing workshops which include interview skills/CVs/application forms – email fifeworks@kingdomhousing.org.uk or call 01592 862304
Energy: If you are having problems paying for your energy contact Cosy Kingdom who can help you get your fuel bills under control – e-mail info@greenerkirkcaldy.org.uk or call 01592 858458.
Downsizing: Perhaps you might want to consider downsizing as this could reduce costs if you live in a property which is now bigger than you need – contact your Housing Officer at Fife Housing Group to discuss your housing options.
If you are having trouble paying your rent and would like to talk to Alison directly you can call her on 01383 608 110 or e-mail alison.young@fifehg.org.uk
