Rent increase 2024/2025

This will impact any of our customers who are on a weekly tenancy agreement or licence.

• If you receive Universal Credit, the Department for Work and Pensions will NOT cover the extra week of rent – you will need to pay it.
• Customers on a weekly tenancy with no rent free weeks will need to pay for 53 weeks (your monthly rent calculation is weekly current rent X 53 weeks ÷  12 months equals your monthly current rent).
• Customers on a weekly tenancy with four rent free weeks will need to pay for 49 weeks (your monthly rent calculation is weekly current rent X 49 weeks ÷  12 months equals your monthly current rent).
• If you receive Housing Benefits (HB, legacy benefits) you will not be impacted by this, as Housing Benefit will cover this as they pay every week that it is charged.

The DWP only pay up to 52 weeks of rent per year and works out the weekly rent for those on Universal Credit by taking the total yearly amount and dividing it by 52 weeks. For example, £10,400 per year / 52 weeks = £200pw rent.

Unfortunately, they have confirmed that they won’t pay for the 53rd week.

This means you will need to pay for the additional week yourself.

To lessen the impact, we recommend you pay a little bit each week over the year.

If you’re not sure what to do, please call our Income team on 0300 123 600 or email  homesIncomeCollection@emh.co.uk so we can discuss your options

If you receive Housing Benefits (HB, legacy benefits) you will not be impacted by this, as Housing Benefit will cover this as they pay every week that it is charged.

If you pay your rent every four weeks, you will need to multiply your weekly rent by 53 then divide it over 13 payments.

For example: £200 weekly rent x 53 = £10,600/13 = £815.38 rent payment every four weeks

If you have rent free weeks, you will need to do your weekly rent x 49 or 51 weeks/13.

You’ll need to change the amount you pay through your bank at the beginning of the new financial year if you want to split the costs of 13 payments.

We will adjust your payments and let you know how much they will be.

You’ll need to change the amount you pay at the beginning of the new financial year if you want to split the costs of 13 payments.

• What can I do if I am not happy about Universal Credit not covering the 53rd week?
• Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do as you will still be responsible and liable as the tenant to pay the extra week of rent Universal Credit won’t cover.
• If you don’t pay, you’ll end up in arrears. However, we would encourage you to write to your local MP, in the hopes the Department for Work and Pensions will cover the extra week the next time we have a 53 week financial year.
• Please remember if you have an agreement with us or a court order in place you will also need to add that onto your rent amount

The rent should be paid on Monday for the week ahead. If you do not do this, your account will be in debt and we will send you arrears letters.

If you pay your rent monthly, your rent should be paid one month in advance.

Our preferred payment method is by Direct Debit. You can set this up at myhomeonline. Alternatively you can download a form from our website www.emh.co.uk or call us on 0300 123 6000 to set one up over the phone.

You can now download an app to your tablet, PC, or smartphone from the app store. Search for allpay and download the app. You will be able to set up a payment facility using your reference number from the allpay payment card together with your debit or credit card. For more information check out the allpay website at www.allpay.net/the_ allpay_app

Pay at www.allpay.net

Pay online using your debit or credit card on the allpay website. You will need to follow the onscreen instructions and have your swipe card numbers to hand.

If you have access to your bank or building society account using a PC you can choose to pay your bill using home banking.

Please quote our bank account sort code 20-25-93, account number 10476021 and your customer reference number. If you do not quote your customer reference number when setting up your payment, credit to your account will be delayed.

Yes.  You can use your Allpay swipe card anywhere you see these logos.

Call us on 0300 123 6000 using our 24-hour automated payment line, using your debit or credit card, quoting your rent reference numbers from your allpay swipe card

You don’t need to worry; your Direct Debit will be adjusted automatically by our Income team – you don’t have to do anything.

Yes, you will need to adjust your standing order. You will need to work out your updated payment amount based on your new rent and service charges. If you would like help to work this out, please contact our Income team who will be happy to help you.

You will need to let the DWP know that your rent has increased, if you don’t let them know they will continue paying last year’s rent amount

·       You can log into your UC account as normal via the UC website: www.gov.uk/sign-in-universal-credit
·       Click on the ‘To-do list’ tab. e Click on ‘Report any changes to your housing costs’ and provide the new charges for your property. You will have received a letter from us informing you of your new charges. If you are unsure, please contact your Income Officer who will be able to confirm the charges.
·       When you have completed the ‘to-do’ there should be an entry in your journal confirming this.

Please complete your rental increase via the to-do list and not from the ‘report a change’ tab.

Please only update your journal on or in the day or two after the date of the rent increase

If you are currently receiving Housing Benefit, you do not need to do anything. Your entitlement will be automatically updated. You will be informed of this.

Yes, but we will also inform Housing Benefit of all rent variations.

You can arrange for your Housing Benefit to be paid directly to us.  Please contact us by e-mail: customerservices@emh.co.uk or call us on 0300 123 6000 to arrange this.

If your Housing Benefit is not enough to cover all of your rent, you'll need to make up the difference by an alternative payment method.

If you have a query in relation to your 2024/25 service charge, please contact us by 15 March 2024 so that we can investigate your concerns.

Email: rentandservicechargequeries@emh.co.uk. Please include your name, address and contact details.

We provide a breakdown of how the rent money is spent in our Annual Report to Residents, which we publish annually. You can view the Annual Report to Residents here.

If you are struggling to pay your rent, please talk to us. We are here to help. We have our own Money Matters team. They can provide help and support to increase your income and reduce your expenditure. They can also signpost you to organisations who offer free, independent money and debt advice. If you would like to speak to a member of our Money Matters team, please call them on 0300 123 6000 or email moneymatters@emh.co.uk If you are in receipt of Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, your benefit will increase with your rent.

If you have any other questions regarding your rent or service charges please contact us by emailing:

rentandservicechargequeries@emh.co.uk

If you are struggling to pay your rent or service charge there may be other organisations that can offer you advice and support.  Please see the document below for further details.

The Winter Fuel Payment is a one-off, tax-free yearly payment designed to help older people, and people on other benefit schemes, to meet the cost of heating their home in the winter.

If you’re eligible for Pension Credit, you may receive a total sum of £200 this winter if you were born between 23 September 1944 and 22 September 1958, or a sum of £300 if you were born before 23 September 1944.

If you have a partner, and you jointly claim any of the means-tested benefits, one of you will get the payment.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, has announced that, from winter 2024/2025, households in England and Wales will no longer be entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment unless they receive Pension Credit or certain other means-tested benefits.

You can get a Winter Fuel Payment for Winter 2024 to 2025 if you were born before 23 September 1958.

You must also live in England or Wales and get one of the following:

• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income Support
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• You’ll also need to have been getting a benefit during the qualifying week of 16 to 22 September 2024.

In some circumstances, you might be eligible if you live abroad.

Call the Winter Fuel Payment Centre if you’re not sure if you’re eligible. You cannot make a claim by phone.

Winter Fuel Payment Centre - Call 0800 731 0160 or click here

Helpful resources

Age UK: Winter Fuel Payment information hub
Gov.uk website: Winter Fuel Payment overview
Citizens Advice: Grants and benefits to help you pay your energy bills 

If you're an emh resident, a Money Matters Coach can give you one-to-one support. Please contact moneymatters@emh.co.uk   or call us at 0300 123 600 for help and advice.