Pay Online

Use our self-service online payment system to pay your Council housing or garage rent now. Have your 12 digit payment reference number handy to process your payment and once ready click the link below:

• Make a payment >>

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Solo, Visa Delta, Visa Electron Maestro. We do not accept Diners Card or American Express. Please note: There is a 1.5% charge for credit card payments.

Pay By Telephone

Use our dedicated 24-hour automated payment telephone line to make payments by debit or credit card. You will need to quote your 12 digit payment reference number.

• 0300 3430040 (Calls are charged at the national rate)

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Solo, Visa Delta, Visa Electron Maestro. We do not accept Diners Card or American Express. Please note: There is a 1.5% charge for credit card payments.

Pay By Housing Benefit

If you are in receipt of any state benefit or if your earnings are low you may qualify for assistance in paying your rent.  Over 50% of our customers pay their rent through their entitlement to housing benefit.

• Housing Benefit

Please note: You cannot receive benefit for garage rent.

Pay By Bank Transfer

Direct Debit

You can make regular payments by signing up to pay automatically by direct debit. This is the simplest way to pay and the one we recommend.

You can choose to pay fortnightly, monthly or four-weekly in advance. Monthly payments are requested on the 1st of every month.

You have a money back guarantee from your bank in the event of an error, advance notice if the date or amount changes and the right to cancel at any time. You only need to sign one form and your bank does the rest.

• Direct Debit application form

To pay by Direct Debit download a Direct Debit form, print it off, fill it in and send it back to us at:

Housing Services
Lewes District Council
20 Fort Road
Newhaven
East Sussex
BN9 9QF

If you need to change your Direct Debit details you can contact us on 01273 484318. If you prefer you can download a new Direct Debit form and fill it in with your new details and send it to us. Please write on the form if it is a change to a current Direct Debit.

Standing Order

If the dates for Direct Debit do not work for your situation, you can set up a Standing Order. Forms can be downloaded below.

Pay In Person

Reception Areas

Payment may be made by cash or cheque to a Rent Officer at 20 Fort Road Newhaven.

Please note that no change will be given. Payments made at Fort Road in Newhaven must be made before 4.30pm Monday to Thursday, and by 4pm on Friday.

Payment Card

You can use the card at any Post Office or Paypoint facility in the U.K. Simply take your money and payment card to the counter and you will be given a receipt confirming your payment has been made. Contact us to request a payment card. 

Cheques and Postal Orders

These should be made payable to Lewes District Council and sent to:

Rent Office
Lewes District Council
20 Fort Road
Newhaven
East Sussex
BN9 9QF

Please write your payment reference number on the back of the cheque. If you would like a receipt, please enclose a request and a SAE.

Home visit

For exceptional cases, if you are unable to use another payment method, for example due to illness, we will collect your rent for you. However, this service can only be operated in exceptional circumstances for a limited period of time due to the expense of offering such a service.

Please contact us if you need to as we would rather you asked for the service than fail to pay your rent.