Paying your Council Housing Rent

• By Direct Debit
• Pay online
• By Standing Order
• At the Post Office
• By Post
• 24/7 Automated Phone
• Payment by Housing Benefit
• At PayPoint Locations

The tenancy agreement you signed states that rent is payable weekly in advance.

Your rent covers the cost of providing you with your home and services, including repairs and maintenance, cleaning and managing estates. It also includes service charges if you live in a flat. Leaseholders living in ex-Council flats pay service charges.

If you are late paying your rent, you are in breach of your tenancy agreement. Failing to pay your rent can lead to serious action, including losing your home.

Rent Enquiry online

You can use our online form to make a rent enquiry:

• Order a Barcode which can be used at a PO/Paypoint
• Request a call back from the Rent Team
• Unable to print - post out Standing Order form
• Unable to print - post out Direct Debit mandate
• Request a Rent Statement

Rent Enquiry online form

Pay by Direct Debit

We encourage all tenants to pay their rent by Direct Debit. 

Paying by Direct Debit will save you considerable time and effort. There is no cheques to write, no paperwork or postage and there's no queuing because Oxford City Council can arrange payments for you with your bank or building society. It's also safer than cash as you are protected by the Direct Debit Guarantee.

For a Direct Debit form, contact any one of our Council Offices, or download a form below:

 Direct Debit Form for a Council home (currently unavailable)
Direct Debit Form for a garage (98kB PDF)

Your bank statement and rent statement will be your records of payment. 

You can pay your home rent Direct Debit from your bank or building society account on the 5th, 15th or last working day of the month.

For garages there is the choice of the 5th or 15th. If required, we can help you fill in your form at any of our Council offices.

Pay online

To make an online payment, visit our online payments page. You will need you:

• Rent Account number (begins with a 9)
• a Debit or Credit Card

When using this facility, your details will be transmitted in a secure and confidential way.

If you rent more than one garage from the Council, you will need to make a separate payment onto each garage rent account.

Pay by Standing Order

If you would prefer to pay your rent weekly, fortnightly or monthly (in advance) through your bank or building society account then you can go into your bank and set up a standing order.

You will have to give them the following details:

• sort code - 08 90 38
• account number - 61173400 

Remember to also provide your rent account number (begins with a 9).

You will have to inform them of any changes to your rent payments, such as the yearly rent increase.

Standing Order Mandate Form (36kB PDF)

Pay at the Post Office

You can pay at any post office in the UK, by cash, cheque or debit card.

If you do not have a payment card or your personal payment barcode (as shown on your rent statements), you can order a new card, or arrange to be sent a copy of your barcode by contacting us. 

Please allow at least three working days for your payment to reach your rent account.

Pay by Post

You can send a cheque, Postal Order or Banker's Draft with your rent account number written on the back to:

Oxford City Council
PO Box 10
Oxford
OX1 1EN

We need your rent account number to make sure your payment is made to the right account.

Please allow at least three working days for your payment to reach us, and do not send cash through the post.

24/7 Automated Phone

If you have a Switch, Delta, Visa or Mastercard, you can pay your rent by phoning Oxford City Council's 24 hour automated service on 01865 252609.

Please note that a surcharge will be added for credit card payments. You will need to have your rent account number (starts with a 9) to hand when you call.

Please allow three working days for your payment to reach your account.

Payment by Housing Benefit

If you receive or are entitled to Housing Benefit can apply for your rent payments to be made directly to Oxford City Council.

To get an application visit one of our Customer Service Centres.

If your Housing Benefit does not cover the full amount of your rent due and service charge, you will need to pay the difference by choosing another payment option listed on this page.

Pay at PayPoint Locations

PayPoint collection terminals can be used to make cash payments to us. They are located in newsagents, convenience stores, supermarkets, petrol garages and off-licences.

Visit the PayPoint website and use your postcode to search for your nearest PayPoint outlet.

Remember to take in your payment card, or a rent statement or other document that shows your personalised barcode, which will be scanned. If you require a replacement payment card or a copy of your personalised barcode, you can order one by contacting us on 0800 22 76 76.

Further help and advice

To find out more, contact our Rent Team on 0800 22 76 76.

If you would prefer to speak to a Rent Officer face to face about your rent then You can make an appointment to be seen at any of our Council Offices. 

Or, if you are unable to get to a Council Office, Rent Officers can make appointments to visit you in your own home. To make an appointment, please contact the Rent Team on 0800 22 76 76.

Page last reviewed 3 May 2012