53-week rent year in 2024/2025
07 March 2024
There will be 53 Mondays in the 2024/25 financial year, which run from 6 April 2024 until 5 April 2025, with the last Monday on 31 March 2025. This means that there will be an additional week of rent to pay in the 2024/25 financial year.
This will affect all of our customers except for our customers who receive Housing Benefit. If you receive Universal Credit, and do not receive Housing Benefit, the Department for Work and Pensions will not cover the extra week of rent and you will need to pay it.
Why do we have a 53-week rent year?
The reason for the 53-week rent year, which happens every five or six years, is that there are 365 days in a year or 366 in a leap year, which breaks down to 52 weeks in a year plus 1 day, or in a leap year 52 weeks plus 2 days.
These extra days accumulate to add an extra week to the financial year. I.e. 52 weeks x 7 days = 364 days (one day fewer than a full year or two days fewer than a leap year).
How does the extra rent week affect me?
This will affect all of our customers on a tenancy agreement/licence with us, however if you receive Housing Benefit you will not be affected as HB will cover the extra week for you.
If you receive Universal Credit, the Department for Work and Pensions will NOT cover the extra week of rent and you will need to pay it.
The table below shows monthly rent calculations for customers on a weekly tenancy agreement/license, excluding customers on Housing Benefits.
| Number of rent-free weeks on your tenancy agreement/license | Number of weeks you will need to pay | Your monthly rent calculation |
| 0 rent-free weeks | 53 weeks | (Weekly current rent x 53 weeks) ÷ 12 months |
| 2 rent-free weeks | 51 weeks | (Weekly current rent x 51 weeks) ÷ 12 months |
| 4 rent-free weeks | 49 weeks | (Weekly current rent X 49 weeks) ÷ 12 months |
What happens to my rent-free weeks?
You will still have rent-free weeks but there will be an additional week to pay, so in effect one of your rent-free weeks will be lost but could cover the extra week’s cost.
You will need to pay your rent for 51 weeks or 49 weeks, instead of 50 weeks or 48 weeks.
How do I pay for the additional week of rent?
To lessen the impact at the end of the financial year, we recommend you pay a little bit extra throughout the course of the year.
If you have rent-free weeks, you will need to calculate: (your weekly rent x 49 or 51 weeks) ÷ 13
If you pay weekly
For example, if you pay £200 a week for your rent, you could divide this by 53 weeks and pay £3.78 a week for 53 weeks.
If you pay every four weeks
If you pay your rent every four weeks, you will need to multiply your weekly rent by 53 then divide it over 13 payments. E.g. (£200 weekly rent x 53) = (£10,600 ÷ 13) = £815.38 rent payment every four weeks
If you pay monthly
If you pay your rent monthly by Direct Debit, we will automatically adjust your monthly payments for you so you will not need to do anything. However, if you pay by Standing Order or through your Network Homes account and want to avoid paying an extra week of rent at the end of the financial year, you will need to adjust your monthly payments. For example, if you monthly rent is £1000, you would do the following calculation:
Step 1: (£1000 x 12) ÷ 52 = £230.77
Step 2: (£230.77 x 53) ÷ 12 = £1010.23
Step 3: Adjust your monthly payments to £1010.23
Click the tabs below to find out what you'll need to do according to your current payment method.
You’ll need to change the amount you pay through your bank at the beginning of the new financial year if you want to split the extra week's cost across the course of a year.
You’ll need to change the amount you pay at the beginning of the new financial year if you want to split the extra week's cost across the course of a year.
You don't need to do anything. We will adjust your payments for you and let you know how much they will be.
What do I need to do if I am on Universal Credit?
The DWP only pay up to 52 weeks of rent per year and works out the weekly rent for those on Universal Credit by taking the total yearly amount and dividing it by 52 weeks. For example, £10,400 per year ÷ 52 weeks = £200pw rent.
Unfortunately, they have confirmed that they won’t pay for the 53rd week. This means you will need to pay for the additional week yourself.
What can I do if I am not happy about Universal Credit not covering the 53rd week?
Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do as you will still be responsible and liable as the tenant to pay the extra week of rent which Universal Credit will not cover.
If you don’t pay, you’ll end up in arrears. However, we would encourage you to write to your local MP, in the hopes the Department for Work and Pensions will cover the extra week the next time we have a 53 week financial year.
Please remember, if you have an agreement with us or a court order in place you will also need to add that onto your rent amount.
I’m still not sure what I need to do
If you haven’t found the answer you’re looking for on this page, please call us on 0300 373 3000 or email us at customerservice@networkhomes.org.uk.
