There are many ways in which you can pay your rent as listed below.

For more information please ring 01453 754876, contact your Housing Officer or email us at housing.rents@stroud.gov.uk

Payment methods

If you have a bank or building society account then this is the most efficient way to pay your rent.
Direct debit payments are made automatically on 1st or 15th of each month. If your payment fails then it is added on to your next monthly payment.

Just fill in the Housing Management Direct Debit Mandate Form (PDF, 95KB) and send it to your bank.

Standing Order

You can arrange to have your rent paid directly from your bank or building society. Payments can be made weekly, fortnightly or monthly. You must tell your bank if the amounts you pay are going to change.

Contact your Housing Officer for more information.

Cash, Cheque, Postal Order & Debit/Credit card

Please visit our Main Reception, Ebley Mill, Westward Road, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 4UB.

• Map of Stroud District Council offices at Ebley Mill (PDF, 713KB)
• Travel Information for Visitors to Stroud District Council

We are open 8.45 - 5.00 Monday to Thursday and 8.45 - 4.30 Friday.

Our cash desk is open from 10.00-16.00 weekdays and we recommend that you visit during these times to make payments, if you are paying by cash, as we are unable to give change when the desk is closed.

Daytime Telephone

You can opt to pay by Debit or Credit Card

Simply ring our Cash desk at the Council Offices, Ebley Mill, Stroud on 01453 754055 or contact your Housing Officer.

New Automated Telephone Payment (ATP) System

Telephone payments can now be made 24 hours per day, 365 days per year through a new Automated Telephone Payment system (ATP).

All you need to do is to ring 01453 768 100 any time day or night and follow the simple instructions. You will need your Credit / Debit Card to hand (most are accepted) and your reference number (shown on your rent card).

You can also pay your Council Tax by this method.

Through the Post

Send your cheque or postal order to Tenant Services, Ebley Mill, Westward Road, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 4UB and payable to Stroud District Council.

Please write your name, address and rent account number on the back of the cheque. This will help us to record the payment properly and send you a receipt.

Whatever you do, please do not send cash through the post.

Post Office

You can pay at any Post Office in the country with your Plastic Rent Giro Card (only cash or cheque payments). Your Housing Officer can arrange for you to have a Giro Card.

Remember it takes 5 days between you making the payment and it reaching us, so please take this into account when making payments by this method.

Internet

You can make your payments 24 hours a day on our online payment pages.

Payzone

You can pay at any Facility displaying the Payzone logo anywhere in the country with your Plastic Rent Giro Card (only cash or cheque payments). You can find your local Payzone outlet online.

Direct Deductions from your benefits

If you wish to pay your rent this way, then you must be in receipt of Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance and have arrears in excess of 4 weeks rent.

Your Housing Officer will advise you as to how to do this or ring 01453 754876.

When do I pay my rent?

Your rent is to be paid fortnightly in advance on a Monday. The dates are shown on your rent card.

If you are paying fortnightly or monthly make sure you pay on the first week of the cycle so your account does not go into arrears.

We have 'rent free' periods for two fortnights each year usually around Christmas and Easter when we do not collect any rent (as long as you are up to date with your payments). These 'free' periods are marked on your rent card.

If you pay by Standing Order or Direct Debit, we spread the benefit of these 'free' periods over the financial year.

Who is responsible for paying the rent?

If you have a Single Tenancy then you are liable for the rent.

In the case of a Joint Tenancy then both of you have an equal responsibility to make sure the rent is paid.

How will I know if I am up to date with my payments?

We will send a rent statement to all residents every three months showing what was paid in, at least, the last 13 weeks.

Alternatively just ring 01453 754876 and we will send you an up to date rent statement including any arrears since the date they started.

You put your tenancy at risk. But don't panic; if you work with us we will do all we can to help you meet your rent obligations.

The most important thing is that you speak to us early on. Do not let matters get out of control. We will not judge you harshly.

We are here to help. You are our tenant and we want you to remain in your own home, if at all possible.

That being said, we will be fair but firm. You have a duty to pay your rent and we will collect all rent owing to us.

Action will be taken if you fall into rent arrears which could ultimately result in the loss of your home, if the situation is not addressed.

What should I do if I miss a payment?

Contact your Housing Officer or ring us on 01453 754876. It is important that you speak to us as soon as possible. We will meet with you confidentially to discuss your situation and to find a way forward.
The first thing we will do is to help you come up with a jointly agreed payment plan that you can afford and we feel is reasonable. It is vital that you keep to this. This is the first step on the ladder of overcoming your difficulty.

In deciding how much you can afford, we will help you to put your debts into priority order. Pay those bills that are the most important first; these being your rent, heating and food bills.

If you want, your Housing Officer can also put you in touch with independent trained money advisers who can help you to manage your income and outgoings. These advisers can also help you to claim all the benefits you are entitled to.

Please see some useful links and contact details at the bottom of the page.

Do you qualify for Housing, or other, benefits?

We will advise you as to what benefits you may be entitled to help with your rent and give assistance in completing any Housing Benefit Claim forms.

Housing Benefit is help towards paying your rent. It doesn’t matter if you are in work, unemployed, retired or receive any other benefits; you can still make a claim and may get some help.

Claim forms and advice are available from the Benefits Team at Ebley Mill, Stroud on 01453 754054 or you can contact benefit.services@stroud.gov.uk.

Visit our page on Housing Benefit for more detailed information.

Why not try our online Benefits Calculator for an estimate as to what level of benefits you may be able to access.

Our preferred solution is to help you to meet your rent obligations and to stay secure in your own home.

However, some tenants choose not to pay their rent and in those cases we will take legal steps to repossess the property so that another person or family can be housed.

What steps will we take?

We will start a formal process of recovering the rent owed.

If your arrears continue to rise we will formally write to you advising that you are breaking your tenancy agreement. You are strongly urged to pay your arrears at this stage or if you cannot to contact your Housing Officer and agree a payment plan.

"Notice Seeking Possession" (applies to Secure Tenants)

After no longer than six weeks you will be sent a "Notice Seeking Possession"; this is the first stage in this legal process. It is, in effect a warning that unless you pay the rent owing we will take you to Court.

County Court

If the arrears continue, or you have not kept to an agreed repayment plan, then we will go to Court to seek authority from a judge to obtain possession of your home.

If granted the court costs will be added to the rent already owed. This could amount to a further £230.

"Postponed Possession Order"

This is where we have been granted permission by the Court to gain possession of your home but you are given a last chance to pay back your arrears over an agreed period. However, if you do not keep to this agreement then we will apply to the Court for a "Warrant to Evict".

This will only be available to Secure Tenants where we take the view that you are prepared at this late stage to meet your rental obligations.

"Timed Possession Order"

This means that we have authority and will proceed with taking possession of your home as soon as is possible.

"Warrant of Eviction"

If you are a Secure Tenant and we have not been able to contact you, or you have broken the terms of the "Postponed Possession Order", then we will apply for a "Warrant" to evict you from your home.
If we have a "Timed Possession Order" or you are an Introductory Tenant (see below) then the eviction will take place without us having to obtain a further warrant.

This is a last resort if all other attempts to recover the arrears have failed. You will be notified of the date of eviction. You have the right to apply to have the Warrant suspended (only if you are a secure tenant).

We will be as sensitive as we can to your circumstances especially if you or your family are vulnerable and there are children involved. We will contact the relevant Departments at Gloucestershire County Council that have responsibilities for children and vulnerable adults.

However, this will not change the reality that the eviction will proceed.

What is the situation if I am an Introductory Tenant?

If you are an Introductory Tenant then different rules apply should you fall into arrears or you break any other clauses in your tenancy agreement.

An Introductory Tenancy is a one-year trial council tenancy. It gives you most of the same rights as a secure council tenancy but you can be evicted much more easily.

If we serve you with a "Notice of Possession Proceedings" this is an important stage in the possession process. You have the right to ask for this decision to be reviewed. We would urge you to do this; the reason being that, if this matter goes to Court then they must grant us possession of your home, provided that we have followed the correct procedure. This means that you will lose your home.

Please remember that as long as you don't break your tenancy agreement - while you are an introductory tenant - you will automatically become a secured tenant.

What are the consequences of eviction?

Obviously you will lose your home and you may be deemed as "intentionally homeless" because you failed to pay your rent. This could affect your chances of being re-housed in the future.

Please contact our Housing Advice team on 01453 754078 or e-mail homelessnessadvice@stroud.gov.uk.

Remember, you will still be liable for repaying your outstanding rent arrears even though you are no longer living in the property.

Furthermore you may also find that you are not able to get credit in the future, including a mortgage, credit card or loan.

So the consequences of eviction are serious.

BUT REMEMBER NONE OF THIS WILL HAPPEN IF YOU PAY YOUR RENT REGULARLY AND ON TIME.

Former tenant rent arrears

Any tenant who has left their property with outstanding rent arrears - whether or not this was the result of an eviction - will still owe that rent and we will take all steps to ensure that it is paid.

In the event of the tenant having died then any outstanding arrears will be sought from their estate.

If there are any costs associated with rechargeable repairs then these too will be added to any outstanding arrears.