Your rent

There are normally 52 weeks in a year, and we charge customers on a weekly basis to cover this period. Rent weeks always start on a Monday. 

But every five or six years, the days of the week fall so there are 53 Mondays - and therefore 53 ‘rent weeks’ - in a year. 

The next time this will happen is the financial year from Monday 1 April 2024 to Sunday 6 April 2025. 

What this means for you 

There will be an extra week of rent to pay if you are on a weekly tenancy agreement or licence.  

Calculating your extra payment depends on any benefits you receive, how you pay your rent and how often you make payments. 

What you need to do

• If you pay weekly you will need to pay for 53 weeks.
• If you pay your rent monthly, multiply your weekly rent by 53 weeks then divide by 12 (this will be what you must pay every month).
• If you pay your rent every four weeks, multiply your weekly rent by 53 then divide by 13 payments (this will be what you must pay every four weeks).
• If you pay by direct debit, we will adjust your direct debit payments.

If you are on Universal Credit

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) only pay up to 52 weeks of rent per year and they work out the weekly rent for those on Universal Credit by taking the total yearly amount and dividing it by 52 weeks. 

For example, £5,200 per year divided by 52 weeks is £100.00 per week rent.

Unfortunately, the DWP have confirmed that they will not pay for the 53rd week. This means you will need to pay for the additional week yourself.

To reduce the impact, we recommend you pay a little bit extra each week or month over the year. 

You can pay the extra week due through:

• A one-off weekly payment. For example, £129.35.
• 12 monthly payments. For example, £129.35 divided by 12 is £10.78 per month.
• 53 weekly payments. For example, £129.35 divided by 53 is £2.44 per week.

If you are not sure what to do please contact your Income Officer.