Paying your rent, collecting current and former tenant debt

Paying your rent without leaving the house
Alternative ways to pay your rent
Collecting debts from former tenants
Current tenants
Former tenants
Current and former tenants
Contact us
Comments, compliments and complaints
Useful links

Bolton at Home aims to provide a range of payment options and locations to suit our customers.

Paying your rent without leaving the house

Direct Debit

If you have a bank or building society account, the easiest way to pay is by direct debit. When the completed form is received we will set up the direct debit with your bank. Once we receive your completed form we will do the rest, including any relevant changes if your rent goes up or down. We will always notify you of any changes to your direct debit. Click on Useful Links for a direct debit form.

Standing Order

You choose your preferred payment date. The completed form needs to be forwarded to your bank or building society for them to set up payments. Click on useful links for a standing order form.

Phone - 24 Hour Service

If you wish to use your debit/credit card, e.g. Switch, Visa, Mastercard, delta, Solo simply telephone 331634 with details of your card and how much you wish to pay. If you use a credit card to pay a surcharge may be payable. You may also pay by clicking onto the 'on-line' payment link under useful links.

Payments Online

If you have a credit or debit card you can pay online by clicking on the link below in useful links. You will need to have your bill and credit card or debit card ready. Payments can be made online from forty Blue Top BT Internet Kiosks located throughout Bolton or at nine kiosks located in neighbourhood housing offices.

Click on this link for further details (Bolton council site, opens in a new window).

Alternative ways to pay your rent

Post Office, PayPoint or payzone outlet

Post Office, PayPoint and payzone logos

You can pay at any Post Office, PayPoint or payzone outlet. For details of your nearest outlet contact your neighbourhood office or go to www.allpay.net/outlets.php4 (external site, opens in a new window).

Calling at Council Offices

Payment can be made by cash, cheque, credit or debit cards at our local offices.

Bolton Town Hall One Stop Shop, Victoria Square, Bolton, BL1 1RU
Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm

Farnworth Town Hall One Stop Shop, Market Street, Farnworth, Bolton, BL4 7PD Monday to Friday 9.00am to 4.30pm

Westhoughton Town Hall, Market Street, Westhoughton, Bolton BL5 3AW
Monday to Friday 9.00am to 4.30pm

Horwich Public Hall, Lee Lane, Horwich, Bolton BL6 7AQ
Monday to Friday 9.00am to 4.30pm

Please contact the following Neighbourhood Housing Offices direct for the local opening hours:

Payment locations	Contact numbers
Blackburn Road	01204 335898
Kearsley	01204 335565
Pikes Lane	01204 335500
North Breightmet	01204 335613
South Breightmet	01204 335190
Farnworth West	01204 335133
Great Lever	01204 335154
Brownlow Way	01204 335971
Chorley Old Road	01204 335285
Tonge Moor	01204 335298
Higher Deane	01204 335346

Post

Cheques should be made payable to Bolton MBC, crossed 'A/C Payee' and posted to Director of Finance, PO Box 4, Town Hall, Bolton, BL1 1RX, please remember to include your rent reference on the reverse of your cheque. Cash should not be sent through the post.

Collecting debts from former tenants

The Former Tenant Arrears Service is part of Bolton at Home and is responsible for collecting:

any debts owed by former tenants for rent,
overpaid housing benefits,
service charges and rechargeable repair costs,

We check and discuss the debts with our customers, make arrangements for repayments and help with future re-housing.

Current tenants

At tenancy sign-up, customers will be advised of the rent payable for their tenancy taking into account an estimate of any benefit they may receive.
If customers fall behind in their rent we will notify them and make realistic agreements with them to pay back the debt.

Former tenants

We will write to customers within 2 weeks of the debt being passed to us (where we have a forwarding address).
If there is no response within the following 2 weeks another letter will be sent out.
If after a further 2 weeks we have still had no response, we will send a letter warning that the case may be passed to a debt collection agency.

Current and former tenants

We will send customers a statement of their account quarterly.
If customers fall into arrears we will provide practical advice and help them manage their money.

Contact us

Current tenants should contact your Neighbourhood Office.

The Former Tenant Arrears Service can be contacted on (01204) 335252 or by writing to:

FTA Service
Bolton at Home
Paderborn House
Bolton
BL1 1JW

Comments, compliments and complaints

If you would like more information, or have a comment, complaint or suggestion about how we can improve our services or complain to us about a service you have received. A form is available from reception areas, or by using the feedback link below or contact us directly on 01204 335765 and we will send you one. You can also give feedback in writing to:

Best Practice & Performance Team
Bolton at Home
FREEPOST NAT13006
Bolton
BL1 8ZZ

Or email
Housing.complaints@boltonathome.org.uk

Useful links

Pay your rent 'on-line'
Service Standards
Standing Order form (opens in a new window)
Direct Debit form (opens in a new window)
Feedback form