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Rent and Housing Benefit
Rent and Housing Benefit
We collect rent on behalf of your landlord the London Borough of Waltham Forest. The Revenues and Benefits Service pays Housing Benefit.
Paying your rent
Your rent is due one week in advance, on each Monday. Some people may prefer to pay every two weeks or every month. Please let us know if you want to pay in this way.
Your rent is due one week in advance, on each Monday. Some people may prefer to pay every two weeks or every month. Please let us know if you want to pay in this way.
How and where to pay your rent
When you first become a Waltham Forest tenant, we will send you a rent payment card. This is known as a OneCard.
If you need more information on the OneCard please visit the councils website at:
http://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/index/do-it-online/onecard-faqs.htm
Your rent account number is on the letter that is attached to the card and you will need to quote this number if you have any questions about your rent. You also need to use this number when you pay your rent. If you lose your OneCard, please let our Accounts Team know so we can send you a new one.
By Direct Debit
The Councils preferred method of payment is by monthly Direct Debit. You can pay your rent by allowing us to take an amount from your bank or building society account. We work out your rent over the year and then divide it into equal monthly payments. There are 4 dates available – the 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th. If you wish to pay by this method please contact Ascham Direct on 020 8496 4197 for the necessary forms.
The Councils preferred method of payment is by monthly Direct Debit. You can pay your rent by allowing us to take an amount from your bank or building society account. We work out your rent over the year and then divide it into equal monthly payments. There are 4 dates available – the 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th. If you wish to pay by this method please contact Ascham Direct on 020 8496 4197 for the necessary forms.
The amounts to pay may change if your rent charges change during the year.
On-line payments
Payments can be made online by visiting the council’s website at http://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/payonline
Please note we only accept the following debit cards - Visa, Mastercard, Visa Delta, Switch, and Solo
At the cash office
You may pay your rent in cash, by cheque or postal order when you visit the London Borough of Waltham Forest’s cash office at:
4 Church Hill
Walthamstow
E17 3AG
Telephone: 020 8496 3000
Minicom: 020 8496 3010
Walthamstow
E17 3AG
Telephone: 020 8496 3000
Minicom: 020 8496 3010
Please ensure that you take your payment reference number with you as the number is no longer held on your OneCard.
By post
You can pay your rent by sending a cheque or postal order payable to ‘London Borough of Waltham Forest’ or ‘LBWF’, and you must write your name, address and your rent account number on the back of the cheque or postal order. All cheques must be crossed and marked ‘Account payee only’. Do not send your rent payment card with the payment and never send cash through the post.
Post your payment to:
London Borough of Waltham Forest
PO Box 6938
Walthamstow
London
E17 3SD
PO Box 6938
Walthamstow
London
E17 3SD
We will not accept post-dated cheques (cheques with a later date on them). Please remember that it will take a few days for your payment to go onto your rent account.
By standing order
By standing order
If you have a bank account or a certain type of building society account, you can arrange to pay your rent by standing order every month or every week. Contact Ascham Direct on 020 8496 4197 so we can send you a standing order form for you to fill in.
You will need to recalculate your payments and advise your bank if your rent amount changes.
By Handitill
Handitills are a quick and easy way of paying your rent in Waltham Forest.
- WFD Shop Leytonstone 819 High Road Leytonstone London E11 1HQ
- Opening times Monday to Friday 8.30am – 6pm
- Saturdays 9am – 1pm
- Friday Hill TMO Housing Office 56 Friday Hill East Chingford London E4 6JT
- Opening times 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday
- Ascham Homes 1 Wood Street Walthamstow London E17 3JU
- Opening times 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday
You must fill in the details on the payment envelope clearly, always providing your rent payment reference number, your name and address, and the amount you have paid. Do not put your OneCard in the handitill.
Please note that the staff with a handitill cannot open envelopes, so please make sure you check your envelope before using the machine. It may take a few days for your payment to go into your rent account. We will send you a receipt in the post for your records.
The Council will not accept liability for any discrepancy of cash or uncrossed cheques placed in handitills.
Please note that the staff with a handitill cannot open envelopes, so please make sure you check your envelope before using the machine. It may take a few days for your payment to go into your rent account. We will send you a receipt in the post for your records.
The Council will not accept liability for any discrepancy of cash or uncrossed cheques placed in handitills.
At any post office or PayPoint site
You can pay your rent at any post office or PayPoint site by presenting your OneCard.Please remember to state what option to pay as quoted in your OneCard letter. You will be given a receipt for the payment, which you should keep in case of any queries. It will usually take three days for your payment to go into your rent account.
Deduction from your salary or pension
Deduction from your salary or pension
If you are a London Borough of Waltham Forest or Ascham Homes employee or receive a pension from them, you can arrange to have your rent taken from your salary, wages or pension. For more details, please contact Ascham Direct on 0208 496 4197.
By telephone
By telephone
A member of our staff will take your debit card payment over the telephone, using the council’s website. We do not accept credit cards. For more details, please contact Ascham Direct on 020 8496 4197 or our Rent and Accounts Team on 020 8503 6242.