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Your Rent
All Council tenants are responsible for ensuring that their rent is paid on time. There is a range of payment options including:-
Please contact the Tenancy Management Officer at your local Contact Centre to discuss these options.
How is my rent calculated?
The rent you pay is worked out according to a national rent formula set by the Government in 2002 known as rent restructuring.
The purpose of rent restructuring is to reduce the difference between council and housing association rents so that eventually all tenants will pay similar rents for similar properties in the same area, the estimated timescale for this is 2012.
The rent structuring formula takes into account local wages, house prices and the number of bedrooms in each home.
How is rental income spent?
Your rent covers the charge for bricks and mortar - including repairs, improvements and management of the property and the neighbourhood. Monies are also paid to Central Government.
How do I know what to pay?
Council house rents are reviewed annually and the changes comes into effect on the first Monday of April. We are legally obliged to give you 28 days notice of any changes to your rent.
When do I pay?
Your rent is due every Monday. We only charge you rent for 48 weeks out of every year, this means that in a year you will have four weeks that you do not pay us rent, these are called 'rent free' weeks. These are usually the first two rent weeks of each year and over the Christmas period.
How do I pay my rent?
Over the internet - this is through our secure payments page.
By direct debit - this is our preferred method. We currently offer payments every fortnight, 1st, 15th or 27th of the month. You can apply tp pay by Direct Debit by completing the 
application form.
If you want to pay your garage rent by direct debit, please complete the application form, for garages the payment date is the 1st of each month.
Telephone - please ring 01246 242205 at any time to connect to our automated telephone payment system. You will need a touch tone telephone and your reference number and debitcard details. Or you can ring 01246 242424 during office hours where our Contact Centre Staff will be able to take a payment from you.
In person - at any of our Contact Centres by cash, cheque or debit card.
By Rent Collector - we have a team of Rent Collectors who can collect your rent on a fortnightly basis, they can only take cash and cheque payments.
By post - cheques should be made payable to Bolsover District Council. Please write your reference number on the back of the cheque so that we can process your payment. Cash should not be sent through the post
Can I get help towards my rent?
Many tenants qualify for help towards some or all of their rent. If you think you may qualify for some help please click here for further information.
What will happen if I fall behind with my rent?
It is important that you pay your rent on time. If you fall into financial difficulties please contact your Tenancy Management Officer as an affordable repayment arrangement can be made.
Will you remind me if I do not pay my rent?
We start taking action when you have missed two weeks payments. If you pay monthly, we start after you have missed a month's payment.
We will contact you by telephone or by letter to discuss an affordable repayment arrangement. If you do not reply or make regular payments to reduce your arrears we will take legal action against you. This could lead to you losing your home. Please see the Tenancy Management Section for further details.
My account is in credit - how can I get a refund
A Rent Refund form is available from all of the Contact Centres. Please be aware that the sum you request may not be what you receive, we will clear any other housing debt before we release any money to you.
What if I am a former tenants who owes Rent?
If you are no longer a current Council tenant and you moved out without paying all the rent that was due these are known as former tenants arrears. We will pursue this debt, even though you no longer live at the property.
If you can't pay your debt all at once, we can arrange a payment plan for you. Normally we would prefer your debt to be cleared within a year, but we will want to know your incomings and outgoings to make sure you can afford the agreement we make with you. We will make regular checks to make sure you are paying what you agreed.
Last Updated on Monday, 20 February 2012 15:50
