Important information about your rent

If you're a tenant in our borough and getting Universal Credit, here's some important information about your rent.

Changes to this rent year

Starting 1 April 2024, the new rent year will be 53 weeks long. This happens every four or five years and means there are 53 Mondays between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025.

As rent's charged weekly on Mondays, it creates a 53-week rent year.

Universal Credit does not recognise a 53-week rent year. It will calculate your rent monthly based on a 52-week year.

What this means if you're a tenant on Universal Credit

• you'll have a monthly shortfall in covering your rent compared to what you receive on UC
• you'll need to make up the shortfall yourself from your earnings, or personal element of Universal Credit

Need extra help? You might be eligible for a discretionary housing payment

You could be eligible for help with your rent if you get either housing benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit. This is a short term payment to help with your housing costs.  

Apply for a discretionary housing payment

Contact us

If you're concerned about making payments, contact us on 01483 444004.