If you fall behind with paying your rent, there are ways in which we can help you. You must tell us straight away so you don't end up owing more money.
If you don't tell us, we will get in touch by text, phone or post, and might come to your home.
Contact your rent team
There are a number of ways to get in touch with us:
- email: housing@dover.gov.uk
- phone: 01304 801084
You can also complete our online enquiry form.
Contact usGet help with housing costs and benefits
We have two dedicated benefit and money advisors employed to help tenants with their benefits, including claiming for housing costs.
Our specialists will be able to advise you on claiming housing costs and maximising your income and, where appropriate, refer you to other agencies who may be able to help.
You'll also find information about benefits and what you can claim on our benefits pages below:
- Find out what benefits you're entitled to or get extra help towards your housing costs
- Find out more about Universal Credit and apply
Discretionary housing payments
Discretionary housing payments (DHPs) are extra payments to help people pay their rent. We give DHPs to people receiving housing benefit or the housing costs element of Universal Credit who need more help with their housing costs.
DHPs are paid in addition to your housing benefit or Universal Credit entitlement. As discretionary housing payments are not payments of benefit, we are able to decide who to give this extra help to, and how much to give.
Beware of loan sharks
Loan sharks are illegal lenders who often target low income and desperate families. They might seem friendly at first but borrowing from them is never a good idea, even if you feel you have no other options.
If you're struggling to pay your rent, please speak to our rent team in the first instance. There may be additional help and benefits available to you. If you get on top of rent arrears early, you will not risk losing your home.
Further help and advice
If you are worried about keeping up with your rent repayments there are lots of organisations which can offer free and impartial advice:
- Citizens Advice (opens in new tab)
- Kent Money Advice (opens in new tab)
- StepChange Debt Charity (opens in new tab)
- National Debtline (opens in new tab)
- Wave Community Bank (opens in new tab)
- Moneyadviceservice.org.uk (opens in new tab)
We have received funding from Kent County Council to help support households who would otherwise struggle to buy food or pay essential utility bills this winter.
You can also watch some helpful videos put together by Kent Homechoice, which includes advice on budgeting, debt and the costs of running a home.
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