Council Housing Rent

If you have an account with us you can pay your rent online now or you can set up an account it only takes a few minutes. We offer a wide range of other payment methods to make it easier for you to make the payment.

Your MKC rent account

Your rent is due weekly in advance as part of the terms of your tenancy agreement. This means that your rent account should not fall into arrears in between your rent payments. Please find below more information about your MKC rent account.

• Difficulties paying your rent
• What happens if you do not pay your rent
• Benefits available to people on a low income or not working
• Support we can offer
• Setting up an online account
• Other payment methods

Difficulties paying your rent

If you can see a problem coming, do not wait until it arrives - talk to us as soon as possible. It is always easier to sort things out when arrears are small, and even when arrears are high.

At every opportunity we will discuss with you the circumstances and what has impacted your ability to pay. We will also try to put together a payment plan so you pay a realistic amount within a reasonable period of time, but we will always insist you see rent as the priority debt and request full payment as a starting point.

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What happens if you do not pay your rent

It is important that you contact us to discuss your account and explain why you are having difficulties. The lack of payments or a payments arrangement plan will lead to enforcement action through the court, and you will be at serious risk of losing your home.

The steps we may take:

• Stage 1 - A ‘Notice of seeking possession’ will be served on you. The notice will tell you the amount of money you owe. An agreement must be made and adhered to, to avoid stage 2

• Stage 2 - We will apply to court for possession of your home. At the court hearing:

  • if you are working and engaging with us to reduce the arrears, we could ask for a Suspended Possession Order (SPO). SPO means that you would be allowed to stay in your home as long as you keep up the rent payments and pay back anything you owe.

  • If there is no engagement or the arrears are continuing to rise, we will ask for Possession Forthwith, which is an immediate possession of your home.

• Stage 3 - Unless you make the ordered payments, we will enforce the order, by applying for a bailiff warrant. This means you must give us possession of your home and the bailiff will evict you.

• Stage 4 - The only way to stop the eviction is for you to apply for a ‘stay of execution’, this must be done by you with the court. If you are evicted for rent arrears we may pass your details to a Debt Collection Agency, go to court to obtain the money, or get an attachment of earnings if you are working.
  
  If you still fail to pay it may result in your case being referred to the bailiffs.

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Benefits available to people on a low income or not working

If you are unemployed or on a low income you may be able to get extra help. If you need the latest information about welfare benefits to help you to pay your rent, you can start by checking the Department for Work and Pensions website.

Other sources of information and support:

• Browse Benefits - Government
• Benefits & Council Tax
• Coronavirus – Financial help for individuals - Milton Keynes Council
• Food Bank Xtra - Milton Keynes Council

If you are worried that you may struggle to pay your rent, or you have benefit or debt problems, we may be able to help through our Money Advice Service or you can review details of MKC independent advice services.

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Support we can offer

We have a dedicated team of Income and Welfare experts who are on hand to listen to your concerns and provide clear and compassionate guidance.

Even if you do not have a problem now, if you can see a problem coming, do not wait until it arrives – talk to us as soon as possible.

• Discuss your rent account with your Income Officer
• Find out more about any of the ways to pay your rent
• Advise you on benefits you may be entitled to
• Request a rent statement
• Advise you how to set up online payments
• Guide you on setting up your online rent account ‘My Account’
• Review you finances and maximise your income
• Direct you to independent, free organisations that can give you debt advice

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Setting up an online account

1. Go to My Council wepage 
2. Once you are there, register for a MyCouncil account by completing a simple online form with your personal details (you will need a valid email address to register)
   
   Now that you have an active MyCouncil account, you can register to manage your rent online.
    
3. Login to your MyCouncil account
4. Click My Accounts
5. Click Account Signup
6. Click Housing
7. Click ‘I agree to the terms…’
8. Click Next
9. Enter your Name and Rent Account number exactly as they appear on your rent statement or letter from the Housing department.
   Once complete, click Validate Account
10. If it’s all correct you will see a ‘Validation Successful’ message (If the details are wrong it will say ‘Validation Unsuccessful’ – if this happens check all your details and go back to step 11)
11. Click Submit
12. Click Continue
13. Give a star rating and a comment, or click Skip This Step

You can now view your rent or leasehold account by clicking on Full Account Details. Each time that you login to your MyCouncil account, you can now view your rent or leasehold account under the ‘My Accounts’ tab. Full guides on setting up your account are available from the website.

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Other payment methods

1. At a Post Office, PayPoint or Payzone outlet

• You can pay your rent at a Post Office, or at any shop displaying the Pay Point or Pay zone symbols, using the barcode below.
• Simply present this page, together with your payment – no rent card is needed as the barcode contains all the information that is required, including your rent payment number.

2. By Direct Debit

Direct Debit is the easiest and most convenient method of paying your rent. You can choose when these payments will be taken from your bank account. The options are:

• Weekly (on a Monday)
• Fortnightly (on a Monday)
• Four weekly (on a Monday)
• Monthly (Any day between 1^st and 28th of the month)

(People who pay by Direct Debit are fully protected by the Direct Debit Guarantee)

3. Standing Order

You can make arrangements with your bank to set up a regular standing order for your rent payments. The bank details to set up the standing order are:

• Sort Code: 60-14-55
• Account no: 37171542
• Account name: MKC rent collection account.

Please ensure you use your 9-digit payment reference

If you choose to pay by standing order, it will be your responsibility to make sure that payments reach the Council on time and that you make the correct payments.

4. Online

Register now for your new online rent account at MyCouncil webpage. You will require your pay reference number to make a payment; this is a 9-digit number beginning with 8

5. By Telephone

You can make debit or credit card payments by phone at any time, day, or night, using our 24-Hour automated payment line; simply call on 01908 253940. You will need your 9-digit rent payment reference

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Last Updated: 20 May 2022