Rent Services
Tees Valley Housing employs a specialist dedicated Rent Advisory Service Team. The role of the team is to deliver a wide range of services to our customers.
These services include:
- The monitoring of rent and service charge accounts
- Maximising the collection of rent and services charge income
- The posting of all payments received to the correct accounts
- A money advice and support service to customers who may be experiencing financial hardship and finding it difficult to maintain payments
- A benefit advice and support service, ensuring that customers know about all the benefits they may be entitled to and to assist and support customers to claim all the relevant benefits in order to maximise income
- Assisting in the completion of appeals where benefit decisions may have gone against the claimant
- Assisting with money advice and debt prioritisation, to ensure that where customers have fallen into arrears with their rent and service payments, manageable and mutually agreed payment arrangements can be set and maintained
- Pursuing debt recovery or possession through the County Court process in extreme cases where payments have not being made, and all reasonable efforts to reduce arrears have failed.
- A wide range of payment options to ensure that rent and service charges can be made using the customers preferred method of payment with the least inconvenience
Rent Increases
It is important that we keep you informed about changes to your rent. Please click here to find information about rent increases for 2012.
Payment Methods
The following payment methods are available:
1. Tees Valley Allpay.net Payment Card
This is a plastic payment card that can be used to make payment at any Post Office or Pay Point outlet. Pay Point outlets are usually local shops, stores, garages and supermarkets. Simply take your card with your payment and pay over the counter. Your account will usually be credited the day after the payment is made. You will always get a receipt when paying by this method. If you do not have one of these cards, simply call our Customer Service Centre on 08000 461600 and a card will be sent out within two working days.
2. Payment by Direct Debit
Direct Debit is a very efficient and effective way to collect payments directly from your bank. For joint bank accounts, a form must be completed which details the amount and how often you want the payments to be made e.g. weekly or monthly. If you have a sole bank account, Tees Valley Housing has a paperless system which means details can be processed over the telephone. The main benefit of Direct Debit is that once it is set up you do not have to worry about your payments again. If the amount you need to pay changes, Tees Valley Housing can make the change on your behalf without you having to contact your bank. Downlaod a printable Direct Debit form here.
3. Payment by Standing Order
When paying by this method, you fill in a form similar to a Direct Debit form and take it to your bank. Your bank will then make the payments automatically to Tees Valley Housing. These payments continue at the agreed amount until you change or you cancel them.
4. Payment by Telephone
Payment can be made over the telephone using either a debit or credit card. This is a simple way to make a payment and it can be done from your own home. There are two options to choose from:
- Payment direct to Tees Valley Housing by contacting our Customer Service Centre on 08000 461600.
- Payment using allpay’s 24 hour payment line on 08445 578315 (to pay this way you must have a Tees Valley Housing allpay payment card so you can quote the reference number.
5. Payment Online using the Internet
To make a payment online, you need an allpay card. If you do not have one, simply call our Customer Service Centre on 08000 461600 and a card will be sent out within two working days. To pay using this method, just click on to our website link to www.allpay.net. You will be able to use a debit or credit card to make a payment.
6. Rent Direct (Housing Benefit)
You can pay by rent direct if you are entitled to claim housing benefit. When you claim, you simply ask for your benefit to be paid direct to your landlord. Once you have been awarded housing benefit, your payments will be sent direct to us and you do not have to worry about paying your rent. However it is your responsibility to notify the Housing Benefit Department of any change in your circumstances. It is also your responsibility to give any further information to ensure your entitlement to Housing Benefit continues and your rent direct payments are maintained.
7. Payment by Post
Payment can be made by post using a cheque or postal order made payable to Tees Valley Housing Limited. You should ensure that your name and address are always written on the back of the cheque or postal order so we know which account to pay it in to. This method of payment can be slow and inconvenient and we would recommend using an allpay payment card.
8. Office Payments
We apologise for any inconvenience but there is no longer a facility to make a payment in person at our office.
Free Financial Inclusion Advice to Tees Valley Housing Customers
Tandem advisers offer free, confidential help and support on a wide range of money matters. Tandem is open to all Tees Valley Housing customers across the northern region of England.
Tandem can help you to:
- Claim your full benefit entitlement
- Deal with any debts, including rent arrears
- Compare loan costs and access affordable loans
- Budget, save and find ways to make your money go further
- Choose a bank account or other financial services such as home contents insurance
- Get specialist help and advice
