Frequently asked questions about rent
How is my rent worked out?
Tower Hamlets council works out your rent using a same formula
which is set by the government. All councils and registered social
landlords use this formula. The following things are taken into
account when working out your rent:
- the average manual wages in Greater London
- the value of your home
- the number of bedrooms in your home
How can I pay my rent?
Tower Hamlets Homes offers lots of ways to pay your rent so you
have a way convenient for you and which helps you pay your rent on
time.
If you want to change the way you pay your rent or want to
discuss your payment options, please give our Rent Accounting Team
a call.
More about how to pay your
rent>
How can I get help with my rent?
If you are having difficulty paying your rent, you should
contact your rent arrears team as soon as possible. You may be able
to get help with your rent through housing benefit or tax credits.
You can also get advice from a local advice agency.
What causes rent arrears?
Rent arrears are caused by:
- paying late
- paying too little
- missing a payment
What happens if I get into rent arrears?
We take rent arrears very seriously. While
every consideration is given to residents who are having genuine
difficulty our first priority is to collect all rent due so we can
provide the services you need.
This means that when all else fails we do
evict residents who have not paid their rent. If you are evicted
for rent arrears, the council or other local authorities may have
no obligation to re-house you, even if you have a family.
What should I do if I owe rent arrears?
Pay the rent arrears as quickly as possible, ideally in one
payment, to clear the whole amount. If you can't do this, please
contact us. You will be able to talk to an arrears officer, who
will give you advice and try to help find a way to solve the
problem.
If you do have problems, it is important to keep us informed.
You can also get advice from a local advice agency, and we can
make an appointment for you with the Citizens Advice Bureau
for independent advice
How can I contact a Rent Arrears Officer?
You can get in touch with your rent arrears officer at:
Tower Hamlets Homes
Jack Dash House
2 Lawn House Close
E14 9YQ
Tel: 020 7364 3366 (if you live in Stepney
& Wapping or South Poplar)
Tel: 020 7364 3333 (if you live in Bow &
North Poplar or Bethnal Green)
Fax: 020 7364
6060
Email: rents@towerhamletshomes.org.uk
What should I do if I think there is a
mistake on my rent account?
If you think there has been a mistake, you
should contact us. We will be able to investigate and sort out any
problems.
If you have made a payment but it is not
showing on your account, you will need to bring your payment
receipt to the office (or send it), so we can make sure that the
correct amount is put onto your account.
How can I request a rent statement?
We will send you a rent statement on behalf of
the council 4 times a year. If you want an extra rent statement,
please contact the Rents Arrears Team or you can request a
statement on-line.
How can I request a rent refund?
We write to you every year if you are in credit. If you want to
request a rent refund, please complete an application form and
return it to us at: Rents Service, Tower Hamlets Homes, 2nd Floor,
Jack Dash House, 2 Lawn House Close, London E14 9YQ.
My heating has broken down, which I
pay as part of my rent. What will happen if I just stop
paying for the service?
If you just stop paying for the service without telling us, you
will incur arrears on your rent and service charge account. We take
arrears very seriously and will take action to recover them which
could lead to you losing your home.
Please don’t just stop paying, get in touch with your rents
team. If you qualify for a rent refund, your Local Service Centre
will arrange to refund your account for the period you were without
the service.
What happens if I
have rent arrears when I
move out?
If there is rent owing at the end of a
tenancy, we will continue to pursue these.
If you are a former tenant who owes rent, it’s
important that you contact the former resident arrears team to
discuss these issues.
If clearing the debt in a single payment is not possible, we
could negotiate repayment by instalments
As a last resort, we will summons the former tenant to court to
get an ‘order for payment’. The addition of court costs makes this
an expensive option for the former tenant.
Where else can I get advice?
You can also get advice from a local advice agency.
If you have a question about rent, or need
further help, please use our
online enquiry form form or get in touch with your rent
service.