Having trouble paying your rent? Contact us now on Freephone 0800 988 4858 or 01256 464114

Paying Your Rent

Your rent pays for the services we provide for you and other residents. It is therefore important that everyone pays on time. Rent is charged on a weekly basis, added each Monday. There are normally 48 rent chargeable weeks each year, which is debited to your account on a Monday each week. We have added some useful information to this section, however please contact us if:

·                     You have any questions or want to discuss your account. 

·                     You have difficulty paying your rent.

·                     You need advice on arrears; or

·                     You need advice on claiming Housing Benefit.          

You can contact us either by calling into the office:  Saxon Court, Sarum Hill, Basingstoke; you can email us at kha@sovereign.org.uk or you can phone us on Freephone 0800 988 4858.

How can I find out how much I owe?

We will send you rent statements quarterly, however, if you would like a copy of your rent statement then please contact your Housing Officer.

Can I get help with paying my rent?

You may be able to pay some or all of your rent by claiming housing benefit from your local council. To qualify, you will usually be on a low income and may be claiming benefits such as job seekers allowance, state pension or working family tax credit. The amount of benefit you get paid depends on your income and savings. If you qualify, the council will pay your housing benefit direct to us. Click on this link to find out more about housing benefit.  

How can I pay my rent/service charge?

All rents and service charges are due weekly in advance. If you wish to pay monthly you need to pay monthly in advance. You can pay your rent or service charge by the following methods:

1 ) Direct Debit

Direct Debit is a convenient and easy method of paying your rent and other charges.  It gives you peace of mind that your payments will go out on time at the same time every month, without you having to leave the comfort of your home. 

Contact the Rents team on 0800 988 4858 or 01256 464114 to request a Direct Debit mandate, or further information.  Simply give us a few personal details on the Direct Debit mandate and leave the rest to us.  We will advise you of the payment amount and the date it will be taken before your first payment is due to be made.  If your rent amount changes your Direct Debit will automatically be updated.

Direct Debit is guaranteed.  In the unlikely event of a payment being made in error, we will give you a full and immediate refund.

If you are in rent arrears, paying your rent by Direct Debit is a good way of reducing the arrears.  Speak to your Housing Management Officer or Housing Officer for further information.

 

2)  Online using Alliance and Leicester's 'BillPay' system

You can pay your rent or service charges online using one of the following cards:

Debit Cards - Visa, Visa Electron, Solo or Maestro

How to Register
Before you can make a payment you will have to register your details online.  You will need to contact Customer Services on 0800 988 4858 to obtain your account number.  This number will be your payment reference when you use the online payment service. You can access this service online by using the following link: http://www.billpayment.co.uk/

How to make a payment
When you have registered you will be able to log in and make a payment. Please allow two working days for your payment to show on your rent account.

Help
Online help is available if you have any problems using the BillPay website. If you are still having problems using the service you should contact us by email or call our Customer Services team on Freephone 0800 988 4858

Payment Security
BillPay uses advanced encryption technology to make sure that your personal and banking details are kept secure and confidential.

3) By Debit Card

You can pay your rent by debit card during our office working hours by ringing Customer Services on 0800 988 4858.

4)  At a Post Office with your 'Payment Card'

You can pay by cash or cheque at any Post Office, using your Sovereign Kingfisher payment card. Your account will automatically be credited with your payment in 1-2 days. If you require a card or need a replacement card you should contact us by email or call our Customer Services team on Freephone 0800 988 4858.

If you have a bank or building society account you may pay by standing order. These can be set up on a weekly or monthly basis. You will need to complete a standing order form. You can request a form by contacting your Housing Officer. Once set up, any amendments to the amount to be paid to Sovereign Kingfisher should be arranged with your bank. 

5)  By Post (cheques only)

If you pay by post you should send your cheque (payable to Sovereign Kingfisher ) with your name, property address and tenant reference number if known.

6) On-line, Phone or PayPoint with 'AllPay'

Using a secure service, allpay offers an increase in service accessibility to enable residents to make payments via the following payment methods:

Online
With an allpay.net swipe card users can pay their bills online 24/7.  You can access this service online by using the following link http://www.allpayments.net.  Simply type in your 19-digit payment card number to login and proceed to pay.  All debit cards are accepted.

By Landline or Mobile Telephone
allpay.net offers an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) telephone payment system.   By telephoning 0870 770 0472, simply listen to the instructions and proceed to pay.  This telephone number is accessible from either landline or mobile telephones, enabling you to pay your bill with an allpay.net swipe card by phone 24/7. 

There are over 20,000 PayPoint outlets at a wide variety of locations across the UK including the Post Office.  Many of these outlets accept debit card payments whilst the Post Office will accept a cheque (please make your cheques payable to ‘Post Office Ltd)’.