Oaklee Housing Association / Rents and Charges
Rent and charges
In order to make paying your Rent and Service Charges both safe and easy, we offer a wide range of options that will mean you can choose how you can pay.
You can pay Rent or Services Charge by:
Going Online - You can now pay your rent online by CLICKING HERE NOW or just click on the Pay Point symbol on the Home page of this web site.
Direct Debit - You could set up a direct debit agreement. Please contact the Income Recovery Team on 0845 073 0005
By phoning us using your debit or credit card - You will need to give us your rent reference number (on your rent payment card), your debit or credit card details, and the amount you want to pay.
At any Post Office or shop or garage displaying the Paypoint sign - You must pay cash and show your rent payment card. Make sure you get a receipt and keep it safe.
By Post - Send a cheque or postal order to our Head office. Never send cash. You need to allow three days for your payment to reach us in time.
By Housing Benefit direct payment - If you claim Housing Benefit, it can be paid directly into your rent account. However if your Housing Benefit does not cover the full amount you still need to pay us the difference.
At Oaklee Head Office - If you claim Housing Benefit, it can be paid direct to us. However if your Housing Benefit does not cover the full amount you still need to pay us the difference.
You must pay your rent on time. This is very important if you want to stay in your home.
Your questions answered
Rent and rates
Your rent is the money we charge you for providing you with your home and our services to you, including repairs and maintenance.
You pay rates to your council for your local services. We collect this from you on behalf of the council. You pay this at the same time as your rent.
Service charges and support charges
Tenants (and leaseholders) pay service charges if they live in certain types of building where there are shared facilities or services. The charges cover:
- repairing and maintaining the building and shared areas inside the building;
- cleaning shared areas, including windows;
- providing lighting and heating in shared areas;
- maintaining and landscaping shared gardens; and
- insuring the building.
Service charges are based on the actual cost of delivering the service. We review them once a year and they may increase or decrease. You may inspect our financial records about service charges as long as you let us know beforehand.
Support charges are for any special services you receive:
- services of scheme co-ordinators and other specialist staff; and
- providing emergency alarm systems and any other special facilities.
Heating charges
If you live in a sheltered or supported scheme you may pay a separate heating charge to us for the heating you use in your own flat.
How to pay
- Through your bank. You can arrange to pay your rent by direct debit. Contact Oaklee Services Centre to set this up. Or, you can pay whenever you want by phoning your bank or going on-line.
- At Oaklee head office. You can pay with cash, by cheque, or by debit or credit card.
- By phone to us using your debit or credit card. You will need to give us your rent reference number (on your rent payment card), your debit or credit card details, and the amount you want to pay.
- At any post office or shop or garage displaying the Payzone sign. You must pay cash and show your rent payment card. Make sure you get a receipt and keep it safe.
- By post. Send a cheque or postal order to our head office. Never send cash. You need to allow three days for your payment to reach us on time. See the address to send it to in About this book.
- By Housing Benefit direct payment. If you claim Housing Benefit, it can be paid direct to us. However, if your Housing Benefit does not cover the full amount of rent, you still need to pay us the difference.
Cheques. Cheques or postal orders must be made out to Oaklee Housing (or to The Post Office Ltd if you are paying at a post office). Write your name, address and rent account number on the back.
