Paying your rent in advance

Here’s what you need to know about paying in advance, and the help available if you need it.

What does paying in advance mean?

Your tenancy agreement says you need to pay your rent in advance. This means keeping your rent account in credit, rather than building up arrears (rent owed).

However often you pay, your account needs to stay in credit:

• if you pay weekly, that means at least one week in credit at the start of each week
• if you pay monthly, that means at least one month in credit.

We know everyone’s situation is different, and paying in advance isn’t always easy. If you’re finding it hard to stay in credit, please talk to us.

If you get Universal Credit or Housing Benefit

Universal Credit and Housing Benefit payments usually come after the period they cover, not before. This means your rent account can fall into arrears, even when you’re doing everything right.

If this happens, our system sends you arrears letters automatically. We can’t stop these letters, even if Universal Credit or Housing Benefit pays towards your rent. We know getting them can be worrying.

If you’re in arrears or struggling to pay, please get in touch. We’ll talk through your situation and agree the best way forward together.

Help to get your account into credit

We know not everyone can get their account into credit in one payment, and you don’t have to.

We can agree a payment plan that works for you. This might mean paying a set amount on top of your usual rent each week or month. Over time, this clears any arrears and builds up credit on your account.

If there’s any credit left on your account when your tenancy ends, we may refund it to you.

Get in touch as early as you can, and we’ll work with you to find a plan you can manage.

What financial support is available?

If you’re struggling with money, you may be able to get extra help.

• Crisis and Resilience Fund: local councils run this fund to support people on a low income or facing a crisis. It can help with essentials and housing costs, and you apply to your council. Read the Turn2us guide to see if you can get help.
• Our Financial Inclusion Team: we can check if you’re entitled to extra financial support. We can also help you find ways to manage your household budget and rent. Visit our financial support page.

We’re here to help

Worried about your rent? The earlier we talk, the more we can help. Here’s how to get in touch:

• call our Rent Team free on 0800 032 2433
• fill in our contact form and choose ‘Payments & rent advice’
• visit our office at 8 Waldegrave Road, Teddington, TW11 8GT, on Wednesdays between 10am and 2pm (no appointment needed).

If you’ve had an arrears letter, please don’t ignore it. We’ll listen, talk you through the support available, and agree a plan you can afford.