There are 52 weeks in a normal year, meaning 52 weekly rent charges. However, every five to six years, there are 53 Mondays in a year instead. 2024/2025 is one of those years.
What does this mean for my rent payments?
This means if you pay your rent weekly, there will be an extra week of rent to pay.
What if I pay my rent by Direct Debit?
If you pay by direct debit, you do not need to do anything. Your Direct Debit amount will be adjusted accordingly.
What if I pay my weekly rent by monthly standing order /other monthly payment method?
If you pay your rent by standing order, or by other methods, you will need to change the amount that you pay yourself. Multiply your weekly rent by 53 and divide it by 12. For example, if your rent is £130.00 per week you would use the following calculation:
£130 multiplied by 53 divided by 12 = £574.17 per month.
What do I need to do if I'm on Universal Credit and have weekly rent charges?
The extra week of rent will not be covered by Universal Credit. The Department of Work and Pensions only pay based on a 52-week rent year and have confirmed that they will not pay for week 53. This means that you will need to pay the additional weeks rent yourself. This is also the case if your rent is paid by Universal Credit direct to your rent account.
What do I need to do to cover the extra weeks rent?
To ensure that you do not fall behind with your rent, we recommend that you pay a little extra each week or month over the year. If you’re not sure what to do, please contact us.
What if I am in receipt of housing benefit?
This will not impact you, as housing benefit will pay for every week that is charged.
If you are experiencing financial difficulties and would like advice, please contact us. Also, visit our dedicated Money Matters page for more information on how we can support you with increases to the cost of living.