start of contentRent and Housing Charges
if i can't pay my rent, where do i go for advice?
If you cannot pay your rent or you fall behind with your payments, please contact us immediately on 020 8430 2000. We will be able to tell you what to do.
The sooner you contact us, the more help we will be able to offer. It is very important that you contact us immediately if you find it difficult to pay your rent. We are here to help and always ready to give you advice and support before the situation gets worse.
The Rent Service Officer understands that sometimes things go wrong and you may not be able to pay your rent on time. If this happens, you should let us know straight away. If you cannot pay all the rent that you owe on your account, we may be able to come to a reasonable agreement with you to clear the debt. However, it is important that if you make a promise to pay, you keep it.
You can speak to your Rent Service Officer face to face if you prefer. They hold local weekly surgeries around the borough. If you phone us and give your address, we can tell you the name, venue and surgery times of your Officer. Or, you can write to your Rent Service Officer at:
The Rent Service
25 Moorey Close
London E15 3JP
You can also get advice on rent arrears and other debts from other advice centres and organisations. The following organisations offer help and debt counselling and advice.
Newham Citizens Advice Bureau
Stratford Advice Arcade
107-109 The Grove
Stratford E15
The drop-in surgery is open between 9.30am and 2.30pm, Monday to Thursday.
Community Links
Tel: 020 7473 2270
105 Barking Road
Canning Town E16
The drop-in surgery is open from Monday to Thursday (please get there at 9.30am).
Cairde na nGael
Unit 10
Durning Hall
Earlham Grove
Forest Gate E7
Please call 020 8534 3250 to arrange an appointment.
If you want information on Newham's Credit Union, please contact:
NewCred Community Credit Union Ltd
1 Water Lane
Stratford London E15 4LU
Please call 020 8555 5388 for more information.
Points for your information
If you have still not cleared your rent account, you:
- May be refused a transfer and other benefits associated with being a council tenant
- Will not be able to use our household contents insurance scheme
- Will not be able to carry out a mutual exchange
- Will not be able to rent a garage from us
- Will not get a good reference for a building society
- Risk court action being taken against you, which could mean that you are evicted from your home.
If you are taken to court and we get a possession order and money judgement, you:
- May not be able to get credit to buy goods
- Will be ordered to pay our costs
- Will not be able to pass on your tenancy to another member of your household if you die
- Will lose the right to buy your home
- Are very likely to be evicted.
Please contact us as quickly as possible if you cannot pay your rent for any reason.
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