There are several ways to pay
By Cash:
By Debit Card:
By Credit Card:
By Post:
On the Internet:
You can also pay your rent by standing order. At present there is no facility to pay your rent by direct debit, but this will hopefully be available in the near future.
Rent should be paid weekly or fortnightly. If you wish to pay monthly, this must be in advance, please contact the rent department on 01375 652815 or your local office and an arrangement can be made to put your account 1 month in advance over a period of time.
If you are on a low income or on benefits, you may be entitled to receive help with your rent - see the benefits section for details.
The local authority is responsible for setting the level of rent based on how much it needs to spend on services for its tenants. Rents should be published giving reasonable notice of any changes (usually at least one month).
The council have recently moved from a points system of calculating rent and are now using a Government recommended method based on the value of each property (taking into account property size and the area which the property is in); and average earnings in this part of the country.
Each tenant receives a formal rent advice by post showing how his or her rent is made up. This is sent annually, or if there is any change in personal circumstances - for example, a change in benefits, a change in tenancy, or a new tenancy starts.
Council members set rent levels annually and all tenants are informed by post. You will get 28 days notice of this annual increase.
Statements of rent are sent to all tenants quarterly. However, if you want a balance of your account at any time, you can contact the rent department (01375 652815) or your local office with your rent reference number and they will be happy to help you.
All rent accounts include the actual gross rent and water rates for the property. If you have any of the following services, charges will also be included on your rent account:
If you fall into arrears with your rent, it is vital that you contact the rent department or your local office as soon as possible. There are ways in which the council can help, but we cannot help if you do not contact us.
Thurrock Citizens Advice Bureau offer a free, confidential housing advice service, with specialist help on debt, and you can drop into their centre (1 New Road, Grays) Monday to Friday 10:00am-4:00pm or telephone on 0870 126 4034 (24 hours/7 days). You can also phone to arrange an appointment with a money adviser on 01375 398154 - Monday to Friday 10:00am-4:00pm.
If you do go into arrears, you will receive a letter reminding you of this and prompting you to pay as soon as possible. If you do not respond to this letter - either by bringing your account up to date, or by contacting the rent department or your local office to make an arrangement to pay extra on top of your usual rent, you will be contacted again.
A rents officer will visit you at home to discuss your circumstances, and will be able to give you advice on any benefits you might be entitled to.
If, despite help from the rent department, you make no attempt to bring your rent account up to date, then action will be taken to repossess your home.
If your rent account is in credit, you can contact the rents department or your local housing office, and they will organise a refund for you. Alternatively, you can arrange to pay less on your account until the credit is used up.
Please remember that even if you receive housing benefit, you still need to pay your water rates, which are also collected through your rent account.
County court housing advice and representation schemes aim to provide free, independent and confidential advice and representation to homeowners and tenants attending hearings in possession proceedings brought on grounds of arrears, who either have not previously obtained advice and/or are without legal representation.
Also see: Help for the Homeless - Useful Contacts
Housing Benefit is financial help for tenants towards paying rent. It is sometimes called rent rebate, and is paid by the local council. You do not have to be on any other benefit to be eligible for housing benefit, but you must apply if you wish to receive it, and it is "means tested" (your financial circumstances decide whether you qualify).
Council Tax Benefit is financial help for owner occupiers and tenants towards paying council tax. This is separate from Housing Benefit but is claimed for on the same form. Again this is paid for by the local council. You do not have to be getting any other benefits to be eligible for it and it doesn't matter if you already get a discount on your Council Tax (for example if you live alone).
You can get a form from the benefits office in Grays or from your local office - alternatively, you can phone the benefits section and ask them to post you a form, or download a form via the link below. If you need any help with filling in the form, you can ask a Customer Service Advisor at the Civic Offices or at your local office. If you are housebound and don't have anyone to help, you can phone the benefits hotline on 01375 652950 and an officer will come to see you.
You need to complete the form as soon as you can, as Benefit can only be paid from the Monday after the Council receives your form.
The benefits section will need to see certain documents for proof of your circumstances. Copies cannot be accepted - you must provide the originals. We can copy the originals for you at the civic offices or at your local office. Proof needed is as follows (and will be required from all adults living in your property):
This list is not exhaustive.
If you are not able to provide all the proof needed with your form, complete it with as much information as possible and hand it in. We can start to process your claim, but cannot pay it until we have all the information. In order for us to pay your Housing or Council Tax Benefit, you must provide all the information within 28 days of the date we received your form. If you can't get some of the information within this time, contact us and let us know - we may be able to make alternative arrangements.
The Housing and Council Tax Benefits section will let you know in writing how your claim is being dealt with, and aim to do this within two weeks of receiving all your information. The amount you get will depend on your circumstances, and it will be paid straight onto your rent account or your Council Tax account.
You will have to renew your claim at least every 52 weeks, sometimes more often, you will be sent a renewal form which you must complete and return to us within 4 weeks.
If any of your circumstances change - for example, a change of income, somebody moves into or out of your home, if you change address, or if you get married, divorced or separated from your partner - you must tell the Benefit section straight away. A change in circumstances may affect the amount of benefit you are entitled to - you may get more or less, if you do not report a change that could reduce your benefit, overpaid benefit is charged to you.
If you go into hospital, your benefit will still be paid in full for the first fifty-two weeks, but if you are in longer than this your Benefit will stop. If you require further information about what will happen to your benefits if you are in hospital please contact the Housing Benefit hotline on 01375 652950.
