RCT Homes has seen a surge in its tenants paying by digital payment channels which now represent more than half the value of payments it otherwise takes by debit and credit cards. The housing provider is using Allpay to offer tenants multiple payment options across cash, card and direct debits.
In the past year, RCT Homes has received more than £700,000 in rental income through online and mobile collection channels, allowing tenants to pay their rent via their mobile or through the internet. This represents nearly 60 per cent of the value of payments it takes via debit and credit cards.
The housing provider now has its own online branded payment pages, giving tenants access to a secure payment gateway, hosted by Allpay.
Paul Jones, head of income recovery, RCT Homes, said, “By using Allpay, we can offer the widest range of payment options to our tenants, allowing them to pay with a direct debit on a day that suits them, through the phone, on their mobile or over the internet.
“Promoting these payment channels and ensuring they are easy to access and use by our tenants is a big part of our digital and financial inclusion strategy. Residents also have the ability to pay at any PayPoint or Post Office if they feel more comfortable budgeting in cash.”
Alongside its adoption of the Allpay service, RCT Homes is currently running a big push to promote digital inclusion for valley communities through its ‘Do It’ project. As part of the programme, people aged 50+ who live in Rhondda Cynon Taff can now access a free service offering one-to-one IT training.