Frequently asked questions

PAYING RENT FOR YOUR GARAGE - CHANGES

At the moment we collect the rent for your home and for your garage as a combined amount. In future we will need to collect the two amounts separately.

We are making this change because we need to keep separate accounts for garage and home rents. We also need to bring our systems in line with government requirements.

What this means is that from 3rd April 2006 we will charge separately for your home and your garage(s). This in turn means that you will need to make separate payments.

Please read on for information on how to pay your garage rent in future.

If you have a suitable bank account, this is the most convenient and reliable way to pay. We collect direct debits on the first of each month, in advance.

If you already pay your rent by direct debit, your existing arrangement will carry on after 3rd April but will only cover your dwelling rent. If you wish to pay for your garage by direct debit after 3rd April you will need to set up another arrangement. Please complete and return the enclosed mandate by 14th March 2006.

If you do not currently pay by direct debit but would like to, please complete and return the enclosed mandate, again by 14th March 2006. If you would also be interested in paying the rent for your home by direct debit please get in touch with our Customer Contact team on 01227 862 142 for more information.

Until 3rd April, please carry on using your existing payment card to pay your combined dwelling and garage rent, as usual.

Next month we will send you a new plastic payment card, just for making garage rent payments. The colour and wording of the new card will make it easily distinguishable from your existing housing payment card.

From 3rd April onwards, please carry on using your existing card to pay the rent for your home and use your new card to make separate garage payments.

From 3rd April, you will need to pay separately for your home and garage rent payments. When you enter your card number, please make sure you are referring to the correct card for the type of payment you wish to make.

Payment Frequency and Amount

We realise it may not be convenient to pay your garage rent every week. We propose to collect and monitor payments on a four-week cycle, with rent being due on the middle Monday of each four-week period. This means the first payment will be due on 17th April 2006. We will write to you again towards the end of March to let you know all the rent due dates and amounts for the coming year.

If you have any comments or questions concerning these proposed new arrangements, please get in touch and we will do our best to answer them. Our contact details are shown at the top of this letter.