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Registered Company Name:
Saffron Housing Trust Limited
Registered Office:
Saffron Barn, Swan Lane, Long Stratton, Norfolk, NR15 2XP
Company Registration Number:
04740454
VAT No:
831 2392 50
Registered Charity Number:
1103896
Housing Corp. Reg. No.
LH4412
Registered in England and Wales
Rents and Tenancies
Rents/Service Charges and Benefits
Why is it important that I pay my rent?
You must pay your rent because the income we receive pays for the services we provide, if you do not pay you will be in breach of your tenancy conditions and you could lose your home as a result.
Who should pay the rent?
The tenant(s) must ensure the rent is paid. To be entitled to Housing Benefit, you must ensure that your application is properly completed, includes all the information required, that it has been received by the Housing Benefits Team and has been processed. Without this Housing Benefit will not be granted and you will have to pay full rent.
How your rent is calculated
From April 2002 the rent for each property has been set in accordance with the Government's rent convergence policy. This aims to ensure that similar properties in similar areas have rents that are broadly the same.
The target rent depends on three things
- The value of the property
- Local average earnings
- The property size.
Rent for each property will change to meet the Government's target rent by the year 2012. If you have a query relating to your how your rent has been calculated please telephone the Rents Section.
The full weekly rent due at the start of your tenancy, is shown in your tenancy agreement. In February each year, we will send you notification of your rent increase. A list of rent payment dates for the next year will be sent to you each March.
Rent book
As an assured tenant, you are entitled to a 'rent book', which shows the amount of rent you have to pay, and other specified information. Your 'rent book' takes the form of a payment information sheet which you will receive once a year, usually in March.
Service charges
In accordance with Government guidelines, service charges are based on the cost of providing the service and are separated from the rent.
Service charges have been identified and linked to individual properties where appropriate. Service charge elements may include:-
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We can only make reasonable service charges, and the services or work we do must be of a reasonable standard. If you believe that your service charge is unreasonable (in terms of amount charged or standard of work), you may be able to apply to a Leasehold Valuation Tribunal for a decision as to what is reasonable. Details can be obtained from www.rpts.gov.uk .
Paying for support services
Under the Government's Supporting People programme, a Supporting People charge may apply if you are a tenant of a sheltered housing or other support scheme, are connected to an alarm service or receive other support services that help you stay in your home. These charges will show on your rent card as 'supporting people charges'. If you are in receipt of Housing Benefit, you will qualify for help to pay these charges through 'Supporting People Grant'. If you do not receive Housing Benefit, you may be able to get help with paying your support charge by other means.(please contact us if you would like more information). Otherwise you will need to make these payments yourself.
Statements
We will send you regular rent account statements. Statements are also available on request from our office. If you have a question about your account balance, please contact your Area Housing Officer.
Methods of Payment
- By Standing Order if you have a bank or building society account. Payments are usually taken on the 15th of each month although other arrangements can be made up to the 25 th of the month. You can also arrange to pay weekly or fortnightly dependant on facilities offered by your bank or building society. For more details, please contact us on 01508 532041
- At our office over the counter. You can pay by cheque, cash, debit or credit card and you will be given a receipt.
- At any post office in the country, by using your swipe card. You can pay by cash, cheque or debit card. For more information on how to pay at the post office, please read the payment instructions issued with the swipe card.
- By post - cheques only please, made payable to Saffron Housing Trust. Please write your account number on the back of the check and sent it to us at Saffron Barn , Swan Lane, Long Stratton, Norwich, Norfolk, NR15 2XP.
- Over the telephone by quoting your debit or credit card details. Please contact us on 01508 532034/5/6/7/8
- On-Line Payments - Register for an On-Line account where you'll be able to view details of you tenancy, request repairs and pay using your debit and credit card.
Housing benefit
You may qualify for Housing Benefit to help you pay your rent. Housing Benefit is awarded depending on your income and savings as well as income received by other members of the household.
Once you have submitted a claim you will then be informed if you qualify for benefit and how it has been calculated. Benefit can be paid directly to Saffron Housing Trust.
In order for a claim to be considered you must submit a completed application form together with documents relating to your income and savings. Application forms and guidance notes on the completion of the forms can be obtained from South Norfolk Council, Revenue Services, based at Swan Lane in Long Stratton. If you are unable to get to the office and are experiencing difficulty in completing your form, you should contact Revenue Services 01508 533633. It may be possible for them to visit you to help complete your forms and to verify your documents.
If you are claiming housing benefit you should note that it is necessary for a new form to be completed periodically in order for your claim to continue. You will be issued with a new form automatically when it is necessary to review your claim. It is important that you submit this form as soon as you can, as benefit may be lost where there is a delay in submitting forms.
You must also notify South Norfolk Council if there is a change to your financial circumstances or if someone moves into or out of your household as this can affect your benefit award and may lead to an overpayment of benefit which is recoverable.
Any benefit you are entitled to may be reduced if you have someone over 18 (other than your partner) living with you. This is called a non-dependent deduction. The amount of deduction will depend on the circumstances and income of the person living with you. Please remember that Housing Benefit can usually only be awarded from the Monday following receipt of the Housing Benefit form, so if you think you may qualify don't hesitate to apply.
Please note: Housing Benefit will not cover any charges made for heating or lighting etc. You will need to pay these yourself.
If you think you may be entitled to housing benefit, you can now use this Benefits Calculator to calculate your possible entitlements.
For all enquiries relating to Housing Benefit, please contact South Norfolk Council's Revenue Services 01508 533633