This year is a 53-week year – what does that mean for your rent?

Published: 13 June 2024

This year is a 53-week financial year – find out what it means for your rent and how to keep your account in good shape.

Your rent is due on a Monday throughout the year. Most financial years, which run from 1 April to 31 March, have 52 Mondays but this year has 53, meaning an extra week’s rent will be due. This occurs every five or six years.

What does this mean in terms of paying rent? Let’s have a look, based on an example rent of £100 per week.

A normal 52-week year

Rent £100.00 per week X 52 weeks divided by 12 months = £433.33 per month

A 53-week rent year

Rent £100.00 per week X 53 weeks divided by 12 months = £441.66 per month.

What do you need to do?

Check out the details below to find out what you need to do to keep your rent account in good shape.

• I pay my rent weekly - If you pay your rent weekly, then you will continue to pay your rent weekly.
• I pay my rent monthly - We will contact all customers who pay their rent monthly, to help prevent you going into rent arrears. 
• I’m on Universal Credit - If you receive Universal Credit (UC), the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will not cover the extra week of rent – you will need to pay it. When calculating UC, the DWP works out monthly rent by multiplying a week’s rent by 50 or 52 weeks depending on your tenancy, and dividing by 12. This is the case even when there is an extra week in the year.
• I’m on Housing Benefit - If you are on full Housing Benefit, you don’t need to do anything. Housing Benefit will continue to pay your rent as normal. However, if your Housing Benefit doesn't cover your full rent each month and you make up the additional payments, then you will need to increase your payments to pay for the additional week's rent. If you don't do this, you will have underpaid on your rent by 31 March 2025.
• I’m on Direct Debit - contact us to amend your direct debit or alternatively, you can pay the additional week’s rent at the end of the year.
• I’m on a standing order - If you pay by standing order, you need to adjust your monthly payments yourself. To calculate how much rent, you should be paying each month.
• I have arrears or a court order - If you have arrears or a court order, add your agreed repayment amount to the weekly rent before multiplying by 53 weeks.

Confused?

We understand that this might be a bit confusing but we’re here to help, so please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.