Your rent matters

 

Ascham Homes would like to thank you for paying rent regularly and on time. Rent collection has significantly improved over the last three years and has increased by 3%.

 

In the last three years we have seen an increase in online payments by 128% and you have told us how easy it is to make payments this way. If you would like to pay your rent easily and securely by using our online payment service, please visit www.aschamhomes.org.uk or www.lbwf.gov.uk. 

 

Direct Debit Payment
Direct Debit payments are up by 18% already in this financial year. If you would like to pay your rent by Direct Debit please contact our Rent and Accounts Team on 020 8496 4070.

What happens if You don't pay Your Rent?

 

Unfortunately, not all residents pay their rent and the impact of non-payment affects our services and performance, on which we are monitored by Waltham Forest Council. The total rent income provides all your essential services including repairs.

 

Since Ascham Homes became an Arms Length Management Organisation (commonly referred to as an AMSOL) rent arrears have decreased by 25%. Ascham Homes collects the rent on behalf of the council, although the London Borough of Waltham Forest sets the rent.

 

 

The way your rent is calculated has changed; your rent is no longer calculated using the ‘pointing scheme’. Since 2003 the council has used the government’s national formula, for the calculation of rent. This uses property values, for example: property sizes, location of property and incomes.


The government’s objectives for their rent restructuring framework is to:

Separating Service Charges from Rents (known as 'Un-pooling')

On 25 February 2006 Waltham Forest Council agreed to consider separating service charges from rents. This is known as ‘un-pooling’, this is because the government is seeking more transparency in the charges that are made to tenants for services provided. The government document ‘A guide to social rent reforms in the local authority sector’ introduced incentives to encourage authorities to un-pool (separate) service charges to tenants from the gross rent change.

 

The services most commonly separated are: grounds maintenance, caretaking concierge, estate cleaning and communal lighting.


How are these Charges calculated?

The council has yet to make a decision on how the charges will be calculated but the preferred option is likely to adopt the same calculation method (e.g. gross value of property) as used for leasehold properties in the borough.

The council wishes to introduce this change with effect from 2 April 2007.


Consultation Framework

How will You be affected?
The separation of service charges will not result in any direct increase in the your rent, other than any yearly ncrease that is set by the council within the government guidelines.

Tenants who are granted Housing Benefit, which covers all housing costs, will not be affected by this change. For example, full Housing Benefit entitlement will cover the service charge element. 


Housing and Council Tax Benefit

Improved Customer Access
The Revenues and Benefits service have now improved customer access to its Housing and Council Tax Benefits Service. This is aimed at providing a localised demand led, claims processing and advisory service to meet customer needs. Teams of Benefit Assessment staff are now located in each Waltham Forest Direct shop in the borough.

Staff are available Monday to Friday 8:30am to 6:00pm at the following Waltham Forest Direct shops.

Residents can visit their local ‘Direct Shop’, at their convenience to make a claim for benefit, report a change in circumstances and get benefits advice. The service offered also includes immediate processing of benefit claims while you wait.