This will impact any of our customers who are on a weekly tenancy agreement or licence.

If you are on Housing Benefits (HB, legacy benefits) you will not be impacted by this, as HB will cover this as they pay every week that it is charged.

• If you receive Universal Credit, the Department for Work and Pensions will NOT cover the extra week of rent – you will need to pay it.
• Customers on a weekly tenancy or licence with no rent free weeks will need to pay for 53 weeks (your monthly rent calculation is weekly current rent X 53 weeks ÷  12 months equals your monthly current rent).
• Customers on a weekly tenancy or licence with two rent free weeks will need to pay for 51 weeks (your monthly rent calculation is weekly current rent X 51 weeks ÷  12 months equals your monthly current rent).
• Customers on a weekly tenancy or licence with four rent free weeks will need to pay for 49 weeks (your monthly rent calculation is weekly current rent X 49 weeks ÷  12 months equals your monthly current rent).

The DWP only pay up to 52 weeks of rent per year and works out the weekly rent for those on Universal Credit by taking the total yearly amount and dividing it by 52 weeks. For example, £10,400 per year / 52 weeks = £200pw rent.

Unfortunately, they have confirmed that they won’t pay for the 53^rd week. This means you will need to pay for the additional week yourself.

To lessen the impact, we recommend you pay a little bit each week over the year.

For example, if you pay £200 a week for your rent, you could divide this by 53 weeks and pay £3.78 a week for 53 weeks.

You will still have rent-free weeks but there will be an additional week to pay, so in effect one of your rent free weeks will be lost but could cover the extra week’s cost.

You will need to pay your rent for 51 weeks or 49 weeks, instead of 50 weeks or 48 weeks.

If you pay your rent every four weeks, you will need to multiply your weekly rent by 53 then divide it over 13 payments.

E.g £200 weekly rent x 53 = £10,600 / 13 = £815.38 rent payment every four weeks.

If you have rent free weeks, you will need to do your weekly rent x 49 or 51 weeks/ 13.

If you pay by Direct Debit

• We will adjust your payments and let you know how much they will be.

If you pay through Myriverside every four weeks

• No problem, if you’re not sure what to do, please get in touch with us on 0800 5298789, we’re happy to chat through it with you.

If you pay by standing order every four weeks

• You’ll need to change the amount you pay through your bank at the beginning of the new financial year if you want to split the costs of 13 payments.

If you’re not sure what to do, please call our Income Management team on 0800 5298789 so we can discuss your options.