Rent support
Struggling to pay your rent
Your rent is one of the most important payments you will need to make. We appreciate there might be many reasons why managing your finances can become challenging. Our priority is to keep you feeling safe and secure in your home. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, we can help. Remember, the sooner you tell us, the faster we can offer support.
This year our Tenancy Sustainment Fund has been reduced considerably from £500,000 to £200,000, so regrettably we had to lower the individual grant amounts to up to £300 for single person households and up to £500 for families.
While the grants are awarded on a discretionary basis, we understand that financial hardship can be incredibly challenging. We remain dedicated to providing support to those who need it most: households in financial distress, who suffer hardship and would not be able to sustain their tenancy without this support.
We are also able to signpost any applicants who do not satisfy the strict criteria of our grants, to other forms of support available. Find out more about available support and benefits.
Requesting support
We understand that managing your rent and other outgoings can sometimes be difficult. If you are worried and are struggling to pay your rent, please do not ignore the problem.
We are approachable, non-judgemental and our aim is to support you. The sooner you talk to us, the sooner we can help you solve it. Contact the Rent Income and Financial Inclusion Team as soon as possible. Our team of income officers and financial inclusion officers can provide advice on an individual basis, taking account of your specific circumstances, needs and challenges.
Contact us
- telephone: 0800 137 111
- email [email protected] or [email protected].
How we can help
- Housing benefit / Universal Credit claims
- benefits check to make sure you are receiving the benefits you are entitled to
- specialist benefits and debt advice
- budgeting to afford your rent
- affordable and sustainable payment plans,where necessary
- application for a discretionary payment towards your arrears
- access to external grants and charities
- signpost you to other organisations that can help
We also work closely with our Housing and Employment Team to get you the assistance you need, including:
- access to jobs
- training for yourself or household members
How it works
Our team will assess your needs and, if required, assign an advisor to help you. Some cases will take a matter of days to resolve while others can take longer.
If we are unable to help with your query, we will refer you to an organisation that can.
Manage your rent online
You can manage your rent account online. Register or sign-in to online housing services. If you need help using this online service, please visit our Online Housing Services Help page.