Paying your rent
How to pay
We offer a range of easy ways to pay your rent. Payments are in advance and can be made weekly, fortnightly, monthly or quarterly by:
- direct debit — download and complete our form and return to your local ACCESS office
- using our online form
- via ACCESSLine on 03452 777 778 quoting your payment reference number
Problems paying your rent
If you are having a problem paying your rent, contact us as soon as possible. We can:
- advise you how to pay your arrears by affordable instalments
- discuss the different ways you can pay rent
- help you claim housing benefit
- discuss extra money you may be entitled to, but are not claiming
- put you in touch with money advice services
You risk losing your home if you don't ask for help when behind with your rent. Talk to us before it is too late, we can help.
Recovering rent arrears
We will carry out four stages to recover rent we are owed:
1 Reminder letters
If you fall behind with your rent, you will receive a first reminder letter.
At this stage you will have one week to pay in full or contact us to make a payment arrangement.
2 Notice of Proceedings
If you do not contact us you will receive a Notice of Proceedings.
This is a legal document giving you 28 days’ notice of our intention to start legal action to recover any money we are owed.
Contacting us is now a priority. Further action can result in you having to pay court costs.
3 Court action
You will receive a summons to appear in court. The summons will detail how much rent is due and give the date on which you need to appear.
You will now be responsible for any legal expenses due.
If you still fail to control your arrears, as a last resort, we will request the sheriff grant a decree for eviction.
4 Eviction
If the Sheriff grants a decree for eviction, our policy is to carry out the eviction unless all the rent we are owed is paid.