Paying your housing rent

South Ayrshire Council housing rents are charged on a fortnightly basis.

There are 24 charging fortnights per year and two non-charging fortnights per year (at the end of the financial year and at Christmas). However, tenants who fall in to arrears must continue paying through the non-charging fortnights.

We offer a range of convenient payment options:

Pay by Direct Debit

Direct Debit is the safest and easiest way to pay your Housing Rent. You can pay your rent monthly on the 1st or the 15th by Direct Debit.

If you have rent arrears you can set up a Direct Debit to pay these separately. If the amounts of your instalments change during the year, you do not have to give new instructions to your Bank or Building Society as we will do this for you. You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time.

If you are interested in switching to Direct Debit, or have any further questions please contact your local customer service centre.

Pay online

You can pay your Housing rent online through our secure online payment facility, using most major credit or debit cards (not Diners Card or American Express).

Pay your Housing rent online

Pay by phone

You can make a telephone payment by debit or credit card, calling our automated payment service on 0300 123 0900 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please have your 13-digit rent payment reference number and credit/debit card with you when making the call. Please note, payment should be made by 5pm to reach your account by the following working day.

Pay by rent payment card

You can pay your council house and lock-up rent at the Post Office, local shops or any other outlet that displays the Girobank or Paypoint facility, by using your plastic Rent Payment Card. Payments can be made by cash, cheque, credit or debit card.

Your payment card is not a credit/debit card and has no monetary value. The information on this card only tells us your rent account details so that we can credit your rent account accurately.

For details on your nearest outlet - additional outlets

You should be issued with a receipt each time you pay. Please keep these receipts and your card safe. If you lose your card please contact your Customer Service Centre for a replacement, which will be sent out within 5 working days, during this time you can pay by any of the other methods detailed below.

Pay by Standing Order

You can pay your rent by Standing Order. If you opt for this payment method, you will require the Councils Sort Code: 80-12-39, Account Number: 00255371 and your 13-digit rent payment reference, this can be found at the top of your rent increase letter.

Your bank may offer standing order weekly, fortnightly, 4 weekly or calendar monthly. If you opt to pay 4 weekly or calendar monthly, you must pay your correct rent charge plus one additional fortnight in advance.

Paying your Former Tenant Arrears

We offer a range of convenient payment options to pay your Former Tenant Rent Arrears:

Pay online

You can pay your Former Tenant Arrears through our secure online payment facility, using most major credit or debit cards (not Diners Card or American Express). The minimum transaction is £5.00 but you can pay 2 payments together to bring the total over £5.00.

Pay your Former Tenant Arrears online

Pay by phone

You can make a telephone payment by debit or credit card, calling our automated payment service on 0300 123 0900 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Please have your 13-digit rent payment reference number and credit/debit card with you when making the call. Please note that the minimum amount you can pay using this service is £5.00.

Non-charging fortnights

There are two fortnights each year where no rent is charged (periods 20 and 26 on your rent calendars).

Rent Year 2024 - 25

Period 20  12^th December 2024 - 25^th December 2024

Period 26  6^th March 2025 - 19^th March 2025

If your rent is paid up-to-date, you do not need to pay anything, but if you are in arrears with your rent, you must pay during these two periods. This will help reduce the amount you owe us.

Fortnightly rent charges 2024/2025

For properties that have not been improved a £19.72 deduction will be applied to the above rental period charge.