This page contains general information only. For anything not covered here please contact the co-op office.
Housing Benefit
If you receive Housing Benefit, this is normally paid directly into our bank account by the council. If you get full benefit, you will probably not have to make any rent payments yourself at all.
If you get Universal Credit you will normally receive the housing benefit element yourself and need to pass it on to us. We recommend setting up a monthly standing order to pay your rent. When we notify you of a rent increase, you will need to use your Universal Credit Online account to inform the DWP of the new amount, as they do not get this information automatically.
How to pay your rent
There are several ways of paying your rent, and you can pay weekly, fortnightly or monthly. All payments must be accompanied by your tenancy reference. You can find this on your quarterly rent statements and on your rent payment card.
- A standing order is the best way is to pay, or online banking if you have it.
Click here for a standing order form that you can print out and send to your bank.
You can also use the bank details shown on the standing order form to set up payments to us in your online banking.
- Check carefully that you have entered our sort code and bank account number correctly. If your bank uses the "confirmation of payee" system, it will show our account name as EWART ROAD HOUSING CO OP.
- Always give your tenancy reference as the payment reference. (If you move house, your tenancy reference will also change.)
- At the Post Office. You can pay by debit card or cash at any UK post office using your barcoded rent payment card. Payments will normally reach our bank account the next working day. (If you don't have a rent payment card you can order one at the office.)
Payzone outlets. You can also use your payment card to pay rent at any shop that displays the Payzone logo. However some Payzone outlets only accept cash, not debit cards.
You can locate Payzone outlets via the Payzone website.
When paying at a post office or Payzone outlet, always keep the receipt safe as it is your proof of payment.
If you are unable to make a payment by any of the above methods you can pay by cheque at the co-op office using a paying-in slip from your old rent book. But cash payments must be made at a post office or Payzone outlet.
Tenancies
You can find information about the current tenancy agreement at the Lewisham Council Tenancy page.
Leaseholders
For reports from the Leaseholder Subcommittee see the Publications page.
Some of the co-op’s activities such as estate upkeep and communal repairs benefit leaseholders as well as tenants. However some leaseholder services are provided by Lewisham Homes (including the collection of leaseholder service charges). For more information see their leaseholder information webpages.
Complaints procedure
We exist for the benefit of our residents so we aim to provide a good service. However if a problem with our service can’t be sorted out informally and you wish to register a complaint, please write to the Housing Manager in the first instance. (It is important to put things in writing so that we can be clear about precisely what the problem is.) You should get an initial response within ten working days.
The co-op has different procedures for different types of complaint: for instance complaints about anti-social behaviour by other residents have their own separate procedure. If in doubt contact the co-op office for help.