Highland Council introduces Direct Debit payments for housing rents

The Highland Council’s 14,000 Council house tenants now have the option of paying their rent by Direct Debit.

Tenants were sent a Direct Debit mandate and explanatory leaflet with their recent quarterly rent statements.

The Council is eager to make tenants aware of this alternative means of payment as it is the cheapest way for the Council to collect rent.

Councillor Margaret Davidson, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Housing and Social Work Committee ,said: “66,000 householders already pay their Council Tax by Direct Debit which demonstrates customer confidence in this method of payment. I would encourage any of our tenants who are considering paying by Direct Debit to do so as it takes a lot of hassle out of remembering, budgeting and paying for your housing rent.”

As long as their payment is in advance, tenants can also pay their rent weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly at Council Service Points or the Post Office by cash, debit or credit card or by Standing Order. They can also pay on line via the Council’s web site: /  and over the telephone by calling 01349 886605.

The advantages for tenants of paying by Direct Debit are:

• It is cheap and convenient – no car parking costs, bus fares or postage and no queuing at Service Points or cash offices!

• It’s safe – tenants are covered by the Direct Debit Guarantee. The Council cannot, by law, take money from a tenant’s bank accounts without giving 14 days notice of the first payment and any subsequent changes to payments. Tenants are protected by the Banks’ Indemnity Scheme and if an error arises, they will receive a full refund.

• Tenants can budget their rent payments either weekly or with equal monthly payments across the year and choose their own payment dates.

• Rent is paid automatically and on time - no need to remember when to pay and once set up the arrangement will then continue from year to year.

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