Rent Payment & Arrears - Spectrum Housing Group

RENT PAYMENTand arrears

What are my obligations?Although Spectrum Housing Group will always try toassist you, ultimately it is your responsibility to ensurethat your full rent is paid on time whether you are inreceipt of full, partial Housing Benefit or no HousingBenefit.The rent you pay to Spectrum Housing Group helps tofinance the following:The housing serviceThe maintenance serviceThe improvement programme includingreplacement kitchens and bathroomsThe loans we take out to build affordablehomes such as the one you live inTo continue living in your home you must make surethat your rent is paid and your account is clear. If youdon’t Spectrum Housing Group may be forced to takelegal action.How can I pay my rent?Your rent is due weekly in advance. If you wish topay your rent on a monthly basis it must be paid inadvance. Please remember that a monthly paymentfor a weekly tenancy agreement needs to becalculated exactly and the Payline team will be happyto assist you with this. You can pay your rent inseveral different ways:Direct Debit – This is the least expensive and mosteffective way of making payments for your rent. TheAssociation can take agreed amounts directly fromyour bank either on a weekly or monthly basis; thispayment method is very successful at preventing rentarrears and is therefore our preferred paymentmethod. Please call our Contact Centre who willarrange for the form to be sent to you.

Debit/Credit Card Payments – You can pay your rentusing your Debit or Credit Card over the telephone,please call the Contact Centre who will take yourpayment. We accept the following cards:MastercardMaestroVisa/Visa ElectronSoloGiro Card Payments – you can use the PaymentCard to make payments by cash or cheque at anyPost Office or any retailer displaying the ‘Payzone’sign. You will be given a receipt for the payment,which you should always keep in a safe place.If you require a Payment Card please call the ContactCentre and they will arrange for a card to be sent toyou. You can check where your nearest Payzoneretail outlet is on-line at www.payzone.co.uk or callthem on 08705 134360.Cheques – you can send cheques addressed toSpectrum Housing Group to our Head Office inChristchurch. Remember to make your chequepayable to your Housing Association and write yourtenancy number and address on the back of thecheque.Web site – you can now pay on-line. Go towww.spectrumhousing.co.uk, click on the associationyou require and follow the link ‘Your Account’. You willneed to have your tenancy reference number handyand valid credit or debit card.Internet Banking – if you currently manage your bankaccount using Internet Banking and would like to setup a regular payment from your account to pay yourrent. Please call the Contact Centre for our bankingdetails.

Housing Benefit PaymentsClaiming housing benefit is your responsibility.Chasing claims is your responsibilty.Always inform your local benefit office of anychanges in your circumstances and also anychange in the amount of rent you are charged.When returning your completed benefit form tothe housing benefit department, request areceipt as proof you have returned it.Make sure you read all correspondence theysend you and respond to requests forinformation within timescales. If you fail to dothis your claim will be cancelled.Always keep us up-dated if you are in the process ofclaiming or submitting a new claim for housing benefit.Welfare Benefits OfficerSpectrum Housing Group employs dedicated WelfareBenefits Officers whose role it is to ensure that ourtenants get the help and support they need to obtainany benefits which they are entitled to.If you are struggling to understand or apply forbenefits and you would like further assistance pleasecall the Contact Centre and ask to speak to ourWelfare Benefits Officer. If your enquiry is simple thenwe may be able to give advice over the telephone, ifhowever you need a higher level of support we willarrange a convenient time and date to visit you athome.What happens if I am in arrears?If you fall into arrears or anticipate that you will, wewould urge you to speak to us. It is always best if weare able to advise and support you before the debtgets out of hand.

When we understand your situation we will be able togive you appropriate advice. You may need; additionalsupport with welfare benefits; guidance regardingclaiming or challenging housing benefit decisions;money management advice; referral to an outsideagency to help you with debt problems; to reach anaffordable repayment agreement to clear your arrears.However tempting it is, the worst thing you can do isignore the problem, our staff can only help you if youdo make contact with us. Please ensure the contactdetails we have for you are up to date.Spectrum’s arrears procedure has a number of keystages, giving opportunities for residents to clear theirarrears.Stage 1You will be advised in writing of the arrear. This willtypically include a statement of your account and maybe advising you that your housing benefit entitlementhas changed or ended.Stage 2You will be contacted by Spectrum to makearrangements to clear the arrear. We will discussyour situation and try to understand the reason forthe arrears.If the debt isn’t cleared at this stage, we may have toserve you with a Notice of Seeking Possession.Stage 3If you have still failed to clear your arrears or keep toan agreement you have made to clear your arrears,we will contact you warning that you will be servedwith a Notice of Seeking Possession. We will give youadvance warning and explain what will happen next.Stage 4If, after the service of a Notice of Seeking Possession,your account remains in arrears and you fail to reducethem in line with an agreement, we will apply to Courtfor a Possession Order for the property you occupy.

Spectrum will arrange a pre-court visit to your home toagree the repayment terms that we will ask for at theCourt hearing.Stage 5The Court will send you notification of the date of thehearing. You should attend the Court hearing inperson. If you do not, the hearing will still take place,but you will have missed an opportunity to presentyour case to the Judge.A Court Order will be made and you will be notifiedof the terms of the order by the Court and theAssociation.If you still fail to make payments as set out in a CourtOrder, we will apply to the Court for a Bailiffs Warrantto repossess your home.Who else can help?Citizen’s Advice BureauSpectrum’s Welfare Benefits Officer –0800 783 7837National Debtline FREEPHONE0808 808 4000 or nationaldebtline.co.ukturn2us.org.uk – for benefits advice and detailsof charities who may assistConsumer Credit Counselling Service – forfree debt advice cccs. co.ukLocal Advice CentresLA Housing Benefit OfficeLA Housing Needs Office

Contact UsIf you require further information about this leaflet,please contact us by letter, email, telephone orvisit our website.Spectrum Housing GroupSpectrum HouseGrange RoadChristchurchBH23 4GEFreephone: 0800 783 7837 or0300 777 7837 from a mobileFax: 01425 283555Email: contact@spectrumhousing.co.ukWebsite: www.spectrumhousing.co.ukThis leaflet is available in otherlanguages, braille or large print onrequest.Leaflet Code: SG 021/ V3© Copyright Spectrum Housing Group 2013Spectrum Housing Group Limited - Registered under the Industrial andProvident Societies Act 1965 with the Financial Conduct Authority No32020R and with the Homes and Communities Agency No 4759Readability

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