METHODS OF PAYMENT
IF YOU CANNOT PAY THE AMOUNT IN FULL PLEASE CONTACT US TO DISCUSS REPAYMENT OPTIONS.
The following methods are available:
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By Direct Debit. Download the Direct Debit form here and return it to Finance Team, Kelham Hall or Please contact Customer Access Team on 0845 258 5550 for more information.
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By Debit Card via telephone at any time day or night: Telephone 01636 6555978 and follow the recorded instructions
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By Debit Card in person at any of the cash offices listed below.
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By cash or cheque at any of the cash offices listed below.
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By cash or cheque at any Post Office, or at any outlet displaying the Paypoint, or E-pay logo. (You will also need to produce your plastic payment card.)
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By post using cheques or postal orders. Cheques should be made payable to Newark and Sherwood District Council. Please quote your account number on the back of the cheque or PO.
CASH OFFICES
Newark and Sherwood Homes, Sycamore Road, Ollerton Telephone 01623 860740
Newark and Sherwood Homes, Eton Avenue, Newark Telephone 01636 655503
Newark and Sherwood DC, Town Hall Market Place, Newark Telephone 01636 655302
Newark and Sherwood DC, Kelham Hall, Kelham, Newark Telephone 01636 650000
Newark and Sherwood Homes or Newark & Sherwood District Council will not be held responsible for cash sent through the post or left at any place, including Cash offices, without obtaining a receipt.
Rent payment methods vary in cost should you wish to receive this information on this or if you have any queries regarding the service please contact the Customer Access Team on 0845 258 5550.
INDEPENDENT ADVICE
If you are having difficulties regarding your rent account, or any other Housing issues, you may wish to contact any of the following:-
• Housing Benefits – 01636 650000
• Citizens Advice Bureau – 01636 704308 (Newark) 01623 861808 (Mansfield)
• Welfare Rights – 01623 845016
• Shelter – 0845 2414515.
• National Debtline - 0808 808 4000 available Monday to Friday 9.00am to 9.00pm and Saturday 9.30am. to 1.00pm or via www.nationaldebtline.co.uk it also provides an information pack on dealing with debt.
INCOME MANAGEMENT TEAM
Plastic Rent Cards
If you need a replacement card please contact Finance 01636 655512 and we will send you one in the post.
To make arrangements to pay your rent or for further information please contact the Income Management Team on 01636 655537,655538 or 655539 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
HOW YOUR RENT IS SET
Newark and Sherwood District Council are responsible for working out and setting your rent, however they are required to follow a set formula using national Government guidelines to calculate your rent. This includes a number of elements such as:
• Average rents in the area;
• Average county earnings;
• Number of bedrooms; and
• Relevant property value and the area where it is located.
Your rent is reviewed annually by Newark and Sherwood District Council and you will be notified of any changes which will take effect at the beginning of April each year.
SERVICE AND SUPPORT CHARGES
In some properties tenants must pay for extra services as part of their rent, for example communal heating, water and other service charges... If you are responsible for paying any additional charges for your property, they will be shown on your portion of the Tenancy Agreement, which you signed.
Further information can be obtained from the Income Management Team.
RENT STATEMENTS
You will receive a rent statement 4 times a year. Also you can request for one at any time by ringing the Customer Access Team on 0845 258 5550, details can be posted to your address.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS PAYING YOUR RENT
Newark and Sherwood Homes will always work with you to reach an agreement to help you reduce the amount of rent you owe. Alternative payment plans are available so payments can be made when you receive your income. If you wish to pay fortnightly or monthly, rent should be paid in advance. Contact your Income Management Advisor to discuss your situation if your account goes into arrears, you may also receive a letter to remind you of your missing payment. If the arrears continue to rise, court action may be taken against the tenant. Newark and Sherwood Homes will always work with you to reach an agreement to help you reduce the amount of rent you owe every effort is made by us to prevent it becoming necessary to take Court action to recover arrears and possession of the property.
These are the steps we take to recover arrears and our Income Management Team is always available to answer any questions you have:
ADVICE AND INFORMATION
Rent is due weekly and if your account goes into arrears your Income Management Advisor will send you a letter to remind you of your missing payment.
Rent is charged on a weekly basis; however this does not mean that you have to pay your rent weekly. Alternative payment plans are available so your payments can be made when you receive your income. If you wish to pay fortnightly or monthly, rent should be paid in advance. Contact your Income Management Advisor to discuss your situation if your account goes into arrears, you may also receive a letter to remind you of your missing payment.
You can visit one of our monthly surgeries held at Ollerton, Hawtonville and Newark Town hall. Please contact the Customer Access Team for dates on 0845 258 5550.
MAKING AN AGREEMENT
Should you be unable to clear all the arrears at once, please contact an Income Management Advisor immediately. The Advisor will, after discussing your existing financial situation, agree an affordable amount for you to pay regularly each week so that the arrears are cleared gradually, (although this may not be appropriate in some circumstances). This agreed amount will be in addition to any current rent that you are due to pay. The Advisor will also give you guidance as to whether you may be entitled to any additional help with paying your rent or direct you to another agency. We may also be able to visit you in your own home to do a financial assessment and help you with your budget or debit assistance.
If your arrears repayments agreement is not maintained and your arrears increase or a debt remains unpaid further action will be taken. You will be contacted again by letter, by phone, or home visit to give you a further opportunity to sort out the problem. If you still fail to reduce the debt you will be warned by letter that we intend to serve a notice to end your tenancy.
GIVING YOU NOTICE OF LEGAL ACTION
If a tenant fails to pay rent or breaches any aspect of their tenancy agreement Newark and Sherwood Homes on behalf of the Council has the right to evict the tenant by applying to the Court to repossess the property. Before we make an application for possession of your home we have to serve the correct notice to end your tenancy. This is a formal warning that we intend to take you to Court for non-payment of rent.
You still have time to prevent this by contacting your Income Management Advisor and making an agreement to clear the debt.
COMMENCING LEGAL ACTION
Once a Court hearing has been asked for you will be sent a summons by the Court office letting you know the date and time of the hearing. At the hearing the Court will grant a Possession Order if the Court agrees that a rent debt is owed, this is usually postponed if you make an agreement to pay your rent plus an amount to clear the arrears.
If you fail to make payments as ordered by the Court where a Possession Order is postponed, or if you fail to clear the debt owed, Newark and Sherwood Homes will write and advise you that it intends to apply for a warrant for possession of your home.
Please be assured that Newark and Sherwood Homes always try to avoid taking legal action whenever possible. You should let us know of any circumstances which may affect your ability to pay your rent. If you are receiving Housing Benefit you must tell the Housing Benefits Section at Newark and Sherwood District Council of any changes in your financial circumstances, family composition, and employment details of any family member if they change, as this could mean that you are receiving the wrong entitlement.
If you talk to your Income Management Advisor, they will give advice to avoid your arrears increasing. The Council’s Housing Benefits Section will also be pleased to assist you with any queries you may have about your correct entitlement.
Newark and Sherwood Homes is committed to early intervention and have implemented prevention measures in order to aid financial inclusion. We do not want you to lose your home. So please help us to make sure this doesn't happen, by sharing your problems as soon as they arise and co-operate in any agreement made.
ARREARS AT THE END OF TENANCY
If you already owe rent to the Council or other arrears as a result of a previous tenancy, you must repay these arrears as a condition of your current tenancy. When a person leaves a Council tenancy they become known as a “former tenant”. If there are arrears at the end of the tenancy Newark and Sherwood Homes on behalf of the Council will continue to pursue these, will discuss repayment terms with the tenant, and could, if payment is not made, summons the former tenant to Court to get an order for payment or the debt is sent to a debt collecting agency.
HOUSING BENEFIT
If you are on a low income you may be entitled to Housing Benefit. Claims can be made and more information obtained by contacting the Housing Benefit Section at Newark and Sherwood District Council on 01636 650000 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
If you would like help with any issue regarding your rent and payments please contact the Income Management Team at Newark and Sherwood Homes on 01636 655537, 655538 or 655539, email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call into one of our local offices.
