New Prospect

Pay your rent

How to pay your rent

We offer a number of ways that you can pay your rent and you can choose whichever is easiest for you:

Internet

Pay your rent online via the Council's Online Payments facility.

Post office

Payments can be made at any Post Office using the plastic payment card supplied to you. If you pay in cash, always check that your change is correct before leaving the office. Post offices are open weekdays and Saturday mornings.

You will be given a receipt as proof of payment. Please keep the receipt to check against your quarterly statement to confirm your payment.

Direct debit

Alternatively you can pay your rent by standing order or direct debit through your bank or building society (available later this year). These payments have to be done in advance and your housing office will have forms that explain how this works. Alternatively your employer may be prepared to make a direct payment from your wages to us.

By Post

You can pay your rent by post if this is easier. Please do not send cash. Instead, use a cheque payable to Salford City Council and send it to Civic Centre, Chorley Road, Swinton M27 2BE with a covering letter giving your name, address and rent account reference details.

Over the telephone

You can pay rent over the telephone using your credit or debit card. Telephone the Council’s Customer Contact Centre on 0161-909 6512. Alternatively, pay via our automated service on 0161-793 3325.

PayPoints

You can also pay your rent through PayPoint. There are 35 outlets in and around Salford in supermarket, petrol stations and general stores. Payment is made with the same card you use at the Post Office.

Need help with paying your rent?

If you are on a low income or state benefit, you may be entitled to help in paying your rent(Housing Benefit). Many tenants, even those in full time jobs, can get Housing Benefit so you should apply even if you are unsure whether or not you are entitled.

Find out if you are eligible to claim housing benefit and receive further information. Calculate your housing benefit online.

Although we can help you, it is your own responsibility to claim any benefit and supply any information needed for the claim.If you get into rent arrears because you fail to claim housing benefit correctly, we will still expect you to pay any monies owed to us.

If your circumstances change and you have less money coming in you might be able to claim extra benefit.If you take action quickly you could keep yourself out of rent arrears.

You can make an appointment with a specialist advisor to get assistance with Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit applications and queries at any housing office. Please call into one of the offices to collect a housing benefit claim form or arrange an appointment.

You can also visit the Council’s Treasury building at the Civic Centre for the same services or you can telephone the benefits contact centre on 0161-909 6506 for advice and assistance.

What do I do if I get into rent arrears?

If you have a problem in paying your rent then you need to deal with the situation straight away.If you contact your housing office they will be able to make an arrangement for you to pay off any monies owed.

We will provide as much help as possible, agree realistic repayment arrangements and provide housing benefit advice.

If you ignore rent arrears your housing office will contact you and if you do nothing you could lose your home.We have a rent arrears recovery policy which will be followed by our officers to recover all outstanding monies owed to us.Although our officers are encouraged to make personal contact with any tenant in rent arrears and offer as much advice and assistance as possible, they will take legal action as appropriate. This legal action involves serving notices and applying to court for eviction warrants in more serious cases.

If you have financial problems we can refer you to the Council’s Debt Advice service or you can contact agencies such as Citizens Advice Bureau.