Welcome to the Red Kite community!

In line with current health and safety regulations, your water and gas supplies have been turned off.

• If this has not already been done, please call our contractor K&T Heating on 0208 269 5981 to arrange for them to come and reinstate your gas boiler.
  
  (If your new home has electric heating, e.g. storage heating, you do not need to contact K&T Heating)
  
  
• Turn on your stopcock to reinstate your water supply - this is usually located under the kitchen sink, or in a storage cupboard, but if you can't find it contact us and we can advise.

Rent Payments

To avoid falling into arrears, it is crucial to set up your rent payment as soon as possible. We make this process easy by offering a variety of convenient payment options - our preferred payment method is Direct Debit.

Housing benefit

If you are currently receiving housing benefit then you must contact Buckinghamshire Council to tell them about your change of address within one month.

If you do not do this, your housing benefit may end and you will have to claim Universal Credit instead.

You can request housing benefit to be paid on both homes (dual housing benefit) if you have moved within the last four weeks and still have to pay rent for your old home.

Housing benefit eligibility

You can make a new claim for Housing Benefit if either of the following apply:

• you have reached state pension age
• you’re in temporary housing.

If you’re over state pension age but you live with a partner who isn't, visit the government website for further guidance.

Universal Credit

If you receive Universal Credit, you must advise the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of your change of address.

You can report your change of address by either:

• signing into your Universal Credit account if you have one, or
• calling the Universal Credit helpline (0800 328 9344) if you don’t have an account.

Support

If you're struggling with the cost of living and need some help, check out this list of organisations who can provide support, including grants for furniture and white goods.

FAQs - Paying your rent

To ensure that you are only charged for the energy you use, it is important to contact Utilita or the utility company (or companies) of your choice and register with them immediately. Make sure you give them the current meter reading from your new home.

We will pass on your contact details and moving-in date to our current energy provider, Utilita - find out more about Utilita.

If you are thinking of having your gas meter removed or capped please contact us first for guidance.

We also have some information on smart meters and heating your home.

Contact Thames Water on 0800 980 8800 and register with them. You will need to give them the current meter reading (if applicable) from your new home.

You will need to let Buckinghamshire Council's Council Tax team know that you've moved in to a new address.

You need a TV licence to watch or record programmes on a TV, computer or other device.

• apply for a TV licence

You may be able to get a free or discounted TV licence if you’re 75 or over and get Pension Credit, or if you’re registered as blind.

You don't need a TV licence to watch:

• streaming services like Netflix and Disney+
• on-demand TV through services like ITVX and Amazon Prime Video
• videos on websites like YouTube
• DVDs or videotapes.

When you move into a new home, it's very important that you arrange your own home contents insurance. We are not responsible for insuring your personal goods, so if there was an accident - such as a fire or a flood - you would need to replace any damaged items yourself.

Here is some information that will help you to arrange your own insurance.