Rent - A Quick Guide

Income from rent is used to pay for the services you receive, like repairs to your home. We know that from time to time, some tenants experience problems paying their rent.

If you tell us straight away that you are having problems, we can help you. It is your responsibility to pay your rent and it must be treated as your priority. If you fall behind with your rent, we have a duty to take action, including legal action, on behalf of the Council. You risk losing your home.

Why should I pay my rent?

It is important that you pay your rent on time. Action will be taken if you fall into arrears, which could result in the loss of you home.

What should I do if I miss a rent payment?

If you get into money trouble you must contact your Estate Management Officer immediately so that we can help. To contact us ring 01942 705040(open Monday-Friday 8am-6pm and Saturdays 8am-12.30pm).

Wigan and Leigh Housing will provide help and advice to people having trouble paying their rent. We understand if you are having problems. We can work with you to pay off arrears in regular amounts you can afford.

Housing Benefit

If you make a claim for Housing Benefit, you must supply all the information they ask for and provide original documents. Delays in sending information to Housing Benefit will cause a delay in your benefit being paid.

Full rent will be payable whilst you are waiting for your claim to be processed, however if you have supplied all the information, we can give you an estimate of the amount of rent that you should be paying until your Housing Benefit claim is processed. If you don’t pay this amount, we will start legal action to repossess your home.

If you don’t provide information when requested by Housing Benefits your claim will not be processed. As a result you will have to pay full rent and any arrears that have built up.

If you have problems supplying the information for Housing Benefit, please contact us. If you don’t claim at the right time you may lose out on your benefits.

For further information on Housing Benefit please click here.

Do not ignore the problem – contact us first – we are here to help.