Paying your rent
How to pay your rent
Please have your 10-digit account number to hand when making a payment. It's printed on all of your rent statements. You can pay your rent using our secure online rent payments system.
Other ways to pay
Set up a direct debit
You can set up regular bank payments by direct debit or standing order. To do this over the phone, please call us on 0800 028 2 028, and have your bank details to hand.
You can also set up your rent payment Direct Debit using our direct debit online form.
Set up a standing order
You can also set up direct debits and standing orders or make one-off payments through your bank’s website or banking app. You just need our details:
Bank: Barclays Bank PLC
Sort code: 20-00-00
Account No: 93380513
Please include your 10-digit rent reference number. Remember, if your rent amount changes it's your responsibility to update your payments with your bank.
In person
Pay by card or cash with a rent payment card at any PayPoint (local stores and garages where you see the PayPoint sign) or Post Office.
Over the phone
You can pay by debit or credit card over the telephone by calling our 24-hour automated payment service on 020 8690 8707.
You can also pay your rent over the phone with us by calling our freephone number 0800 028 2028.
Check your rent balance
You can view transactions and download a copy of your rent statement on the Resident Portal.
We have also brought back our text message service for rent balance checks. Just text BAL followed by a space and your account reference, e.g. BAL 1234567890, to 07888 863392.
Please note, this is a new number – if you previously used this service, update the number in your phone contacts. Texts will be charged at your standard message rate. To use this service, we must have your current mobile phone number on our system. You can update it on the Resident Portal or by email to housingenquiries@lewisham.gov.uk, or call 0800 028 2028 (option 7, followed by option 3).
Problems paying your rent
Lewisham Council’s Housing Service is keen to support our residents to sustain their tenancies. Contact us straight away if you are struggling to pay your rent. We may be able to come to an arrangement that you can afford.
What can we do to help you pay your rent?
We have a specialist team of welfare benefits advisors who can provide free help and advice with:
- claiming the right benefits and understanding changes to your benefits
- managing and prioritising debt
- budgeting and saving money on your energy bills
- working out a payment plan that you can stick to
- putting you in touch with other organisations that can help
Contact the Welfare Benefits team by email on welfarebenefits@lewisham.gov.uk or by phone on 0800 028 2028.
You can also use the Turn2us benefits calculator to see what support you could be entitled to.
If you are in severe financial hardship and need emergency assistance please contact our Welfare Benefits team or visit this page to find details of a range of support agencies.
If you’re on benefits already and your income has stopped or dropped:
Housing benefit – residents with an existing housing benefit claim must report their change of circumstances straight away.
Please note: new claims for housing benefit cannot be made unless you are reaching the age of retirement or you are classified as severely disabled and receiving the higher rate of employment and support allowance.
Please check with the Welfare Benefits team if you are unsure whether or not you should be claiming Housing Benefit. The Welfare Benefits team can guide you to make sure you make the right choice.
Universal Credit – report changes using your Universal Credit online account or contact the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
If you are NOT on benefits already and your income has stopped or dropped:
If you’re struggling financially you may be eligible to apply for these two benefits:
Universal Credit
If you need to claim Universal Credit, you can get help and advice from the government-sponsored service MoneyHelper.
Council Tax reduction
Get help covering the cost of your council tax bills with our council tax reduction scheme.
Are you over 60?
Our Welfare Benefits team can help you with:
- pension checks
- single person’s council tax
- warm homes discount
- cold weather payments
- Thames Water Sure discount
- attendance allowance
- winter fuel payments
- support agencies in the borough
Get in touch with the Welfare Benefits team by email on LH-welfarebenefits@lewisham.gov.uk or by phone on 0800 028 2028.
Do you have debts?
If you are worried about debts or have missed payments, you can speak to our Welfare Benefits team for advice. You can also access free and independent debt advice through MoneyHelper.
Debt management policy
You can download our debt management policy from the policy library.