Paying for temporary accommodation
You are responsible for paying rent and related charges for your temporary accommodation.
If you are on a low income or benefits you may be able to get help with these costs.
How to pay
You can choose how to pay your rent.
Whichever option you use, have your rent account reference to hand. This is a 9 or 10-digit reference number beginning with a capital ‘Z‘ or ‘6’. You can find it at the top of any letter or rent statement about your temporary accommodation. Use this number as the payment reference, so we can keep a track of your payments.
Pay online
You can make payments and view your rent statements by registering for Wandsworth Housing Online.
You can also make a payment directly to the Council.
Standing order
Set up a standing order with your bank using these details:
- Account number: 69612544
- Sort code: 60 22 28
Telephone
Call freephone 0800 021 7763. Press option 7 and enter your 9 digit account number followed by the # key. Replace any letter with the * key.
Your rent and charges
Details of all your property charges are listed in your booking letter or agreement.
The amount of rent you pay and when you need to pay it depends on the type and size of the property we provide for you:
- For accommodation leased from private landlords for your sole use, you are charged weekly from Monday to Sunday, in advance
- For ‘Nightly Paid Accommodation’ you are charged for every night
Service charges and Council Tax
In most cases you will need to pay service charges and Council Tax on your temporary accommodation. This will be clearly shown in your booking letter or agreement.
Service charges cover the costs of utilities (gas, water, electricity etc). Service charges are not covered by Housing Benefit.
To pay Council Tax, you will need to register for this in the borough where your temporary address is located:
- Register an address in Wandsworth
- If your address is outside of Wandsworth, use the Find my local Council service to visit the Council’s website and find out how to register for Council Tax in your area
If you are living in self-contained temporary accommodation, you may still have to pay service charges and Council Tax. Please ask your Temporary Accommodation Officer.
Get financial help
If you are on a low income or benefits you may qualify for financial help towards the costs of your temporary accommodation.
Check if you are eligible for a discount or exemption on your Council Tax.
You may also apply for Housing Benefit.
Housing Benefit
Note: whilst you are in temporary accommodation any financial help towards your rent would be covered by Housing Benefit, not Universal Credit.
It is important to apply for Housing Benefit immediately and give us all the information we need to make a full assessment.
You will need to provide:
- ID for everyone in your household
- Confirmation of rent and the property address
- Confirmation of income
- Bank statements covering the last three months
We will write to you directly if more information is required.
You are responsible for managing your claim to ensure your rent is paid on time and in full.
If you have any problems with your application, complete the assistance request form.
Other information and support
Find out about the Benefit Cap which is a limit on the total amount of benefit you can receive.
These services offer support or advice in managing your finances:
If you do not pay
If you fail to pay your rent or keep up payments, you could lose your accommodation. You may also be considered intentionally homeless and the Council will no longer have a duty to provide you with accommodation.
You should contact your Income Maximisation Officer if you miss a payment or you are having difficulties making payments. Their contact details can be found at the top left-hand side of any letter or statement you have received about your temporary accommodation.
Alternatively you can complete the assistance request form.