Paying your rent when you are in receipt of Universal Credit
If you are in receipt of Universal Credit and are claiming the housing cost element, this will be paid as part of your single monthly payment.
If you were previously in receipt of housing benefit, this was automatically paid to your rent account. This is not the case with Universal Credit, so you need to decide how you will pay your rent.
You can:
- set up a regular payment for your full rent and any arrears arrangement using any of our payment methods
- request that the housing cost element be paid directly to your Birmingham City Council rent account
Direct payments
If you would prefer your housing costs to be paid directly to your rent account, you can ask by:
- speaking to your DWP Work Coach
- emailing rent@birmingham.gov.uk – you must include your rent account details
- completing our housing rents enquiry form
Your housing costs will be paid to us monthly, in arrears.
The money you receive for housing costs may not always cover your full rent. You will need to make sure you pay any outstanding amount.
If your housing cost element does not cover your full rent, you can apply for Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP). This is based on individual circumstances, and your application may not be successful.
Direct messaging
Occasionally, the rent service may contact you through text message.
These text messages will display either the name "BCC RENT" or the number "07860 003 505".
If you are unsure about a text message you have received, email rent@birmingham.gov.uk, or phone 0121 675 2006 to check.
If you are in arrears
If your rent account is already in arrears, we can request that your housing costs be paid directly to us to cover your rent, without you having to request it.
We can do this if:
- you owe more than 2 months' rent, or
- you owe one month's rent, and you have not paid rent on time in the past
We can also request deductions for rent arrears to help clear your debt. This can be up to 20% of the Universal Credit standard amount paid to you.
Changes in circumstance
If you experience a change in circumstance, you must report this to the DWP via your online account or by calling the Universal Credit helpline, as this may affect your entitlement.
If your change in circumstances affects your ability to pay your rent, contact the rent service by:
- emailing rent@birmingham.gov.uk
- completing our housing rents enquiry form
- calling 0121 675 2006 between 9:00am and 5:00pm, Monday to Friday
Page last updated: 11 March 2026
