The easiest way to pay
Direct Debit is the easiest way to pay your rent. A regular monthly payment is taken from your bank account on the first working day of every month equal to 1/12 of the total rent and related charges that you need to pay over the year.
As we collect a Direct Debit from you, once it is set up you don't need to worry about paying your rent or making changes when rent increases occur. We will, however, notify you at least 14 days before any change to your direct debit, so that you have a chance to query the change if it's wrong or even cancel the Direct Debit.
With Direct Debits, we collect your rent so you will always be a member of the Tenant Reward Scheme with all its benefits including entry into the quarterly £1,000 draw.
Click here for more details about the Tenant Reward Scheme ....
How do I switch to Direct Debit?
It's easy to switch to Direct Debit. Just click here and print out or download the Direct Debit form 
(PDF 17 Kb). Complete it and send it to Soha at the address on the form and we will set you up. At least 14 days before the first payment is taken out of your account, you will get a letter setting out the amounts we will collect .
So why choose Direct Debit?
=> It's easy, once it's set up we do the rest and you don't have to do anything.
=> You have a Direct Debit guarantee that ensures you are protected
=> Helps you keep organised and on top of your payments
=> It’s a lot safer than cash
=> You will always be a member of the Tenant Reward Scheme (providing your direct debit doesn't bounce)
=> You can forget trips to the post office, queues, cheques, stamps
=> You will always be informed at least 14 days in advance of changes to amounts
=> You are still in control and are free to cancel any time
=> We collect rent, service charges, water charges, support charges etc all in one easy payment
How is my Direct Debit instalment calculated?
Your payments will be calculated by multiplying your weekly charges for the year and spreading the payments from 1st April to 31st March each year. If you start paying by Direct Debit part of the way through the year, we will work out what your payments need to be to spread your rent evenly over the remaining months to next March.
What is the difference between a Direct Debit and a Standing Order
A Direct Debit is where you tell your bank or building society to pay Soha the amount that it asks for. The Direct Debit instruction form tells the bank that you have allowed Soha to do this. With a Direct Debit, once it is set up, Soha does all the calculations and work and you are protected by the Direct Debit guarantee.
A Standing Order is where you ask your Bank or Building Society to pay Soha a set amount each month. The Bank carries out your orders and pays the amount you have specified until you tell it to change or stop. With a Standing Order you have to do all the work and it is your responsibility to ensure that your bank is told the correct amount to pay and ensure it is told about changes in time for it to make any revised payments.
Questions answered for Direct Debit payers
If you are already paying by Direct Debit (or thinking of doing so), we have set out below some answers to common questions that you might have
| Why does your statement show that you are in arrears when you pay by Direct Debit? |
Soha's rent statements are designed for people who pay weekly and therefore your rent and other charges are shown weekly even though you pay monthly. This means that the balance will not be £nil until the end of the year.
We are going to try and introduce a different style of statement for Direct Debit payers so that you will be able to see that your rent is up to date each month. |
| If your rent changes do you need to set up a new Direct Debit? |
No. The Direct Debit mandate is not for a set amount. Soha can change the amount when it is necessary e.g. rent increases, as long as you are given, in writing, the 14 days' notice required in the Direct Debit Guarantee. |
| When do you need to complete a new mandate? |
You only need to do a new Direct Debit mandate if:
* you have changed your bank account
* you or your bank has cancelled the Direct Debit mandate |
| What notice do you have if there is a change in your Direct Debit amount? |
With Direct Debits, there is a Direct Debit Guarantee agreed by all banks and Direct Debit users which says that Soha must give you a minimum of 14 days notice to a change in payment.
We can, however, make changes with less than14 days if we have spoken to you and you are happy for a change to be made. We will ask you to confirm this and a note put on your account. You will then receive written confirmation of that we have agreed the change with you. |
click here to view, print and download the Direct Debit Instruction Form (PDF 17 Kb)...