Paying Rent 

Your rent pays for the services you receive from us, including the maintenance and management of your home. Paying your rent is your responsibility and it is very important that you pay your rent on time. 

Your rent is payable monthly in advance and is due on the 1st of each month.  

It might be possible for your rent to be paid at an alternative date but this needs to be agreed by your Community Housing Officer. 

There are five ways you can pay your rent. In order to pay your rent you must have an Allpay card, so if you require a replacement please contact us.

There are five ways you can pay your rent - 

1. Direct Debit – please contact us on 01620 829 300 to set up a direct debit 

2. Allpay Automated Telephone Line – call 0330 0416 497 and use your Allpay card number   

3. Allpay outlets such as the Post Office or anywhere displaying the Paypoint logo 

4. Using the Allpay App, which can be downloaded from your App Store 

5. Online at the Allpay website 

Difficulty Paying Rent  

If you are unable to pay your rent for any reason contact your Community Housing Officer immediately. 

Homes for Life Housing Partnership strives to prevent rent arrears by means of home visits and negotiated repayment schemes. Our Rent Arrears Policy aims to provide a firm but fair commitment to reducing rent arrears, taking into account your personal and financial circumstances. 

It is important that you come to some form of arrangement to clear your debt. All cases are treated sympathetically and we will not impose unrealistic repayment schemes. 

If you are having difficulty paying your rent, here are list of useful numbers that maybe able to assist you confidentially.  

Department of Work and Pensions (Universal Credit) – 0800 3285 644 or www.gov.uk/universal-credit/how-to-claim 

Scottish Social Security www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/

Citizens Advice Haddington - 01620 824 471 or www.cas.org.uk

Turn to Us Benefit Checker - https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/ 

East Lothian Council on 01620 827 827 or through the website where they have specialist advice including  www.eastlothian.gov.uk/info/210559/council_tax_and_benefits

- Housing Benefit 

- Discretionary Housing Payment 

- Financial Inclusion Team  

- Scottish Welfare Fund 

Other useful info –  

Foodbanks please contact your Community Housing Officer for a referral 

• Dunbar Foodshare (for tenants who live in East Linton, Innerwick, Oldhamstocks, Stenton and West Barns) 

• East Lothian Foodbank (covers all of East Lothian) 

• Lammermuir Larder (covers Garvald, Gifford and Haddington)