Rent free weeks explained
Rent free weeks explained
Depending on your tenancy agreement your annual rent charge can be split evenly over 48 or 52 weeks.
Most of the homes we manage have their rent calculated using 48 weeks, rather than 52. In this case, there are four weeks in the year where rent is not charged to your account. These are often referred to as 'rent free' weeks and are normally split into two, two-week periods: one at the end of March/April and one in December. Depending on the balance of your rent account, you may still have to pay during these weeks.
If your rent is calculated and charged over 52 weeks, there are no rent free weeks applied to your account, although you're still only being charged the correct total annual charge.
This year's rent free weeks are weeks commencing: 25 December 2023, 1 January 2024 and 18 & 25 March 2024.
If you have any other questions, please contact us on 01283 528528 or email us.
How often you pay, changes what you need to do
If your rent is charged over 48 weeks and you pay your rent in advance on a weekly or fortnightly basis using cash or credit/debit cards, and providing your account is fully up to date at the beginning of the rent free period you can choose to pay no rent during this time (referred to above).
If you pay your rent by direct debit, and are eligible, you still get four rent free weeks in the year and your annual rent charge is calculated using this 48-week basis. However, your direct debit is calculated to allow the amount that is paid at each weekly/fortnightly/four-weekly/monthly period to be the same throughout the year.
If you pay your rent by standing order, and providing your account is fully up to date at the beginning of the rent-free period you can choose to alter your payment amount during this period (referred to above). To do this you'll need to contact your bank.
If you have missed rent payments, you'll be asked to continue paying any agreement to repay the amount owed over the charge free weeks.
If you owe rent or are behind on payments
If you are in arrears with your rent, you must make payments during these weeks. As there is no rent debit, everything you pay will be taken fully from the amount you owe.
Do I get rent free weeks?
Yes, if you have a clear rent account and no other debt owed to Trent & Dove.
What does 'other debt' mean?
Other debt is anything else you owe to Trent & Dove such as a rechargeable repair cost, a debt from a former tenancy, or court costs.
Do I get rent free on Housing Benefit?
The rent-free weeks will already be taken into account by Housing Benefit. If your benefit is paid directly to Trent & Dove, you don't need to do anything. If your Housing Benefit is paid to you and you're not in arrears and you do not have any other debt, you can reduce your payment for two weeks.
Please contact us if you're not sure.
Do I get rent free if I’m on Universal Credit?
Your rent payments have been calculated based on the rent you are due to pay for a full year . This means that the benefit from the rent-free weeks has already been taken into account, so you should not cancel your direct debit or reduce your payments over the rent-free weeks. The same monthly amount is due.
If you are in arrears with your rent and you have an agreement with us to clear your debt by instalments, you must continue to make your agreed payments.
No charges will be added to your account for the rent-free weeks, so your payment will be used to reduce the amount you owe.