Easthall Park Housing Cooperative

Paying Rent

The Co-operative relies on the payment of rent to provide the services that you receive, including the management and maintenance of your home.

Rents are set in accordance with our rent setting policy, which is based on the size and type of home you have along with the amenities provided.

Your rent is due in advance on or before the 28th of each month. You will be issued with a rent payment card when you sign your tenancy agreement and payments can be made wherever you see a PayPoint.

Payments can be made at any time of the month and as often as you wish. Alternatively you can chose to pay by standing order direct from your bank account.

Rent Review

All rents are reviewed annually and we will seek your views before any changes to your rent. We only increase rents to reflect any additional costs in the management and maintenance of your home.

Housing Benefit

Some tenants receive Housing Benefit if they have difficulty in meeting the cost of the rent themselves.

The Glasgow City Council administers Housing Benefit. To claim you can pick up an application form at our office or from:

Financial Services
Glasgow City Council
7 Shandwick Street
Glasgow
G34 7PD

Tel: 0141 287 1270
Fax: 0141 287 1295
Email: hben.easterhouse@fs.glasgow.gov.uk

The amount of Housing Benefit you get depends on the amount of money coming into your home. If you are on Income Support you will normally get all your rent paid unless you have other adults living in your home. Even if you receive Income Support you must make a separate claim for Housing Benefit by contacting the above address.

It is important that you claim as early as possible as it is difficult to get claims backdated.

If your circumstances change such as a change in income, benefits or the number of people in your home you must let the Council and the Co-operative know.

Each year the Council will also send you a new form to apply for Housing Benefit. It is important that this form is returned or your benefit will stop and then you will be responsible for paying the rent yourself.

If you need any advice about Housing Benefit including how to complete the form then please contact your Housing Officer at our office.

You can apply for a Council Tax rebate along with your Housing Benefit application. The Co-operative is not responsible for the administration or collection of Council Tax therefore all enquiries regarding this should be made direct to Glasgow City Council.

Please request a receipt every time you submit a form or supporting information in relation to your claim for Housing Benefit.

Difficulty in Paying Rent

On occasions people meet with various difficulties in paying their rent. If you find that this happens to you then please contact your Housing Officer immediately.

We can assist you by helping you apply for any benefits you may be entitled to and arrangements can be made to allow you to repay what you owe over a period of time.

We will deal with you sympathetically if you are experiencing financial hardship, and as long as you stick to an agreed repayment arrangement no further action will be taken. Unfortunately on occasions the Co-operative has no option but to begin legal action, and as a last resort eviction.

It is therefore vital that if you are experiencing difficulty in paying your rent that you contact the office immediately to prevent the problem becoming much worse than it need be.