Housing Services staff deal with a range of matters related to managing tenants and the properties they live in. These include:
- Debt management - including welfare benefit and housing benefit advice, monitoring of rent payments and rent accounts, former tenant accounts and rechargeable repairs.
- Estate management - including dealing with anti-social behaviour and neighbour disputes.
- Allocations - including waiting list management, terminating and letting tenancies and selecting and allocating properties.
- Repairs - including receiving and processing day to day repair requests, alterations and medical adaptations of tenanted properties.
- Maintenance - including planning and implementing property improvement programmes such as kitchen, bathroom and window replacement
Staff spend a large amount of time out on Atrium’s estates ensuring both the houses and environment are well maintained. In addition, staff carry out a high number of home visits to tenants to discuss a range of tenancy matters.
We have provided initial information on the three key elements relating to housing management as follows. Further details can be obtained by contact with the Housing Services team.
Your rent is due every calendar month, payable in advance, on or before the 1st of each month.
Rent money is the main income we have to provide all of our services to tenants. A large proportion of our rental income goes to upgrading our tenant’s homes. As a result, failure to pay your rent impacts on the amount of money available for repairs and improvements to your home. We need rent to be paid on time and arrears to be repaid as soon as possible.
There are a number of ways to pay your rent. You can choose the one that suits you best:
Direct Debit
If you wish to pay by Direct Debit you must complete a request form at this office. Payments will be deducted direct from your bank account on the 1st of each month.
Standing Order
If you wish to pay by Standing Order you must complete a standing order request form at this office. Payments can be deducted from your bank account either weekly or monthly.
AllPay
You can pay by cash or debit card at the post office or any outlet displaying the PayZone sign e.g. shops and supermarkets. If you wish to start paying by Allpay you must request a swipe card by contacting the office. You can use Allpay to pay online by clicking here.
Payments by Telephone
You can pay by credit or debit card by telephone, 24hrs a day, 7 days per week if you have an Allpay swipecard. The number to use is 0870 243 6040. If you wish to start paying by Allpay you must request a swipe card by contacting the office. During office hours our staff will also take and process telephone payments.
By Post
You can pay by post. Remember to make your cheque out to “Atrium Homes” and write your address and tenancy reference number on the back.
Housing Benefit is a state benefit available to any tenant on a low income, whether in receipt of benefits or working. If you are on a low income you may be entitled to Housing Benefit to help you pay some or all of your rent.
Many people who are entitled to Housing Benefit do not claim it so it can be worthwhile applying even if you don’t think you will get it. For more information and an application form, contact your Estates Officer who can assist you to complete the form. Any delay in applying for HB may mean a loss of benefit and result in rent arrears.
You are responsible for ensuring that you complete the necessary forms and supply the supporting information to allow your claim to be processed. You will then be held responsible for any arrears that arise if you do not return an application or supporting information.
HB must be paid directly to us. Even with this it is still your responsibility to ensure it is being paid .It is important that you reply to all correspondence from the council or us about HB.
When you claim Housing Benefit it is essential that any change in your circumstances such as a rise or cut in your income which may affect the amount of benefit you are entitled to receive, is notified to your Estates Officer and East Ayrshire Council.
You must inform the HB office and Atrium Homes of any changes to your income or household composition as it is an offence to withhold information about changes to your circumstances.
Even if you are on Income Support, you need to fill in a Housing Benefit form. You should get the maximum amount of HB unless you have other adults living with you.
We believe that paying your rent in full and on time should be your first priority. However, we understand that you may at some point have difficulty paying your rent. If you are having difficulty paying your rent on time, please contact the office immediately and arrange to speak to your Housing Officer. The earlier you tell us about it, the easier it is to sort the problem out.
Your Estates Officer will be happy to give advice and agree a realistic and affordable arrangement to help you pay off any arrears you may have.
Arrears can be cleared by agreeing an arrangement to pay them off in instalments over a reasonable period of time. We will ask that you pay at a level you can afford, taking account of your income and the amount you owe.
If you do not contact us or cooperate with our efforts to make an arrangement to pay off your rent arrears we will take legal action to end your tenancy and recover the debt.
Don’t leave it too late. We are here to help you. We don’t want to see anyone lose their home as a result of rent arrears. We will try and help you if you come to see us about falling behind with your rent but, if you don’t contact us or keep to your arrangement for repayment, we will take legal action against you, as a last resort.
- You could get a poor credit rating which could go against you, for example, if you need a reference for a loan to buy a house or if you are asking for credit for some other purchase.
- Your chances of being rehoused could be affected
- You could have your wages arrested
- You could lose your home
We will also seek to recover from you the legal expenses involved in taking action against you.
We will not pursue legal action if you make and keep to an arrangement for paying what you owe. When dealing with your arrears the worst thing you can do is ignore our attempts to contact you to discuss it as this will only lead to legal action being pursued.
