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Council Housing - Rents

Why tenants should pay their rent

It is important that the Council collect rent as we use it to maintain services supplied to council tenants. 

If a tenant has a leaky roof, burst water pipe or their heating doesn't work it is this money, which pays for it to be repaired. We cannot offer this service to our tenants without funds to pay for it. 

We are sympathetic but will not tolerate non-payers and will take action against tenants who can pay but won’t pay.

Payment Methods

Your rent is due on a weekly basis and the amount to pay is shown clearly on your rent card. There are several ways of paying your rent:

• At the door – a rent collector will call to you each week if requested to collect your rent and council tax. 
• Direct Debit – you can arrange to have your rent paid monthly direct from your bank or building society. If you want to pay by this method please complete a direct debit mandate and return it to the Rent Section.
• At the Ebbw Vale Cash Office – you can pay at the cash office; you can also pay by debit/credit card.
• By post – cheques and postal orders should be made payable to the ‘COUNTY BOROUGH OF BLAENAU GWENT’ and sent to the Municipal Offices, Civic Centre, Ebbw Vale, Gwent.NP23 6XB.
• Automated telephone line – there is a 24 hour payment line that is available 7 days per week which will accept debit/credit cards. Telephone (01495) 350689 to make a rent and council tax payment.
• Internet - by debit/credit card. 
• C2BG - telephone (01495) 311556 to pay by debit/credit card.
• Outreach locations - you can pay at any outreach location by debit/credit card.
• Paypoint/Post Office - You can take your rent card or any correspondence you have received with a barcode on it to any paypoint or post office and make a payment. To request a paypoint card contact the Rent Section on (01495) 355202.

Housing Benefit and Rent

For tenants who are on a low income or unemployed, housing benefit is available to assist in the payment of your rent. 

If you have not already completed your housing benefit application form please do so immediately, as you may lose benefit and backdating will not be given without good cause, resulting in full rent being payable. 

If you are having difficulty in completing your application form or have a benefit query please contact the Benefit Section on (01495) 311556. 

A benefits calculator is available here on the Council’s website and this is easy to use and enables you to see if you are entitled to claim housing benefit, council tax benefit, tax credit and pension credit. 

Please remember that you cannot claim help towards your water rates and even if you are entitled to full housing/council tax benefit these must still be paid.

Further Information

Contents Insurance – the Council advises all tenants to arrange insurance to cover the contents of your home. The Council arranges the cover on the buildings, but the contents are your responsibility.

Free Weeks – there are four free weeks during each financial year but if you are in arrears you are required to make your rent payments during these weeks.

Rent Statements – we will issue you with a statement every 3 months and this will give you an up-to-date balance of your rent account.

Prize Draw – a prize draw is held once a year for all tenants who have a clear rent account as at the end of the financial year.

Suggestion Box – if you wish to make a suggestion to improve the service provided by the Revenues Section, please write to:
Revenues Section
Blaenau Gwent CBC
Municipal Offices
Civic Centre
Ebbw Vale
Gwent
NP23 6XB 

Customer Service – all correspondence will be answered within 10 working days and all telephone calls will be answered within 10 seconds or 3 rings.