Ways to Pay your Rent

Direct Debit

You can pay your rent weekly (on a Monday) or monthly (on the 1st, 15th and 23rd of the Month) by Direct Debit if you have a bank account.  You can set up a Direct Debit over the telephone by contacting us on 0800 833160.  You will need to have your bank account details ready when you call.

If you prefer, you can complete a   Direct Debit Mandate Form  and return it to: South Essex Homes, Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, SS2 6FY.

We will arrange payments to be debited from your bank account. Once the bank has received your instructions we will calculate the payments due and send a letter to you to confirm how much will be claimed and on what dates. All you then need to do is ensure that there are sufficient funds in your account to meet the payment when it is due. 

Recurring Card Payments

Any day, any frequency payments can be set up to be taken automatically from your debit or credit card. This is an ideal payment method for ongoing rent payments or to repay an outstanding debt you may have with us. Payments are agreed at set-up and cannot be changed without your prior permission.  You will also not be charged if there are insufficient funds in your bank account when the payment is attempted.

In order to set up payment or to discuss alternative payment methods, please speak to your Tenancy Officer or our Specialist Income Management Team by calling 0800 833 160.

Text Payment

Mobile phone users are able to pay 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you have a Smartphone, you can download the 'allpay' App for free directly from the Apple App Store or Google Play.  For more information, visit: www.allpay.net/allpay-payment-app

Tenants with other mobile phones can pay by text message.

To use this service you must first register on the website www.allpayments.net/textpay/login.aspx, then follow the instructions provided.

Once you have created login details you can text your payment.

Telephone

  • Automated 24 hour service: If you have a debit or credit card you can make payments via Southend City Council's 24 hour automated payment service. Dial 08702 406650 and follow the instructions given - you will need to have your Rent Account Payment Reference number and your card details. Calls to this number are charged at 1 pence per minute. There may also be additional charges incurred from your own telephone provider.

 

  • During office hours (Monday to Friday 8:45am — 5:00pm), you can also make a telephone payment via our Customer Contact Centre on 0800 833 160.

Pay Point

South Essex Homes issues Swipe Cards, which enable you to pay your rent at many outlets throughout the country.  You can use your swipe card in any Post Office, and at participating PayPoint outlets.

Visit the PayPoint website to find your nearest outlet.

If you lose your card please do not worry, the card does not contain any information about you or your rent payments and it cannot be used to obtain any money.  The cards can only be used to pay your rent. To obtain a replacement card, please ring 0800 833 160.

Post Office

You can pay your rent at any UK Post Office.

You will need your plastic payment card to make the payment, which was issued to you when you signed up to your tenancy.

Please keep your receipt safe- it is a record of your payment.

If you need a replacement card, please contact the Customer Contact Centre on 0800 833 160.

More Ways to Pay Your Rent

If you prefer, you can also pay your rent using the following methods:

By Standing Order - 

You can arrange to pay your rent by standing order.  This is an arrangement you make with your bank.  You need to inform your bank of how much you need to pay and also update them any time there are any changes to your rent.  You can download a standing order mandate form - Standing order form - SCC.pdf [pdf] 83KB  or  Standing Order Form - Temporary Accommodation (scc).pdf [pdf] 84KB - or obtain one by calling our Customer Contact Centre on 0800 833160. 

If you are considering setting up a Standing Order please also consider a Direct Debit as it operates in much the same way, although with a Direct Debit there is no delay between the money coming from your bank account and showing up on your rent account.  Also we will make any amendments to the amount when the rent increases to save you the time.

By Post -

Please make cheques payable to Southend-on-Sea City Council. Please write your address and Payment Reference No. on the back of the cheque. It is not advisable to send cash. Send to: Southend-on-Sea City Council, Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, SS2 6FY

By Bank Transfer -

To pay by Bank Transfer either over the counter at your local branch or via online banking, please include your Payment Reference Number as the reference and send your payment to:
ACCOUNT NAME: General Account of Southend-on-sea City Council
SORT CODE: 20-79-81
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 20145904