There will be 53 Mondays in the 2024/25 financial year (1 April 2024 until 31 March 2025), with the last Monday on 31 March 2025.
This occurrence happens every six or seven years in a rent calendar, because 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 over that time and to add an extra week to the year.
52 weeks x 7 days = 364 days (one day fewer than a full year or two days fewer than a leap year).
Here is some guidance to help you understand what this means for you.
If you are a customer receiving Universal Credit
- The Department for Works and Pension (DWP) only pays 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.
- In a 53-week financial year this means there will be one week of rent that will not be covered by Universal Credit. You will need to make this payment directly to the Council. We will also write to you separately about this if you are in receipt of Universal credit, so that we can give you advice.
- Rent for the new financial year is calculated by rent per week x 53 weeks / 12 = per calendar month.
If you are a Housing Benefit claimant
- If you are on Housing Benefits then you will not be impacted by this, as Housing Benefits will cover this as they pay every week that it is charged.
- If you pay your rent every four weeks you will need to multiply your weekly rent by 53 then divide it over 13 payments.
If you pay your rent fortnightly
- You will need to multiply your weekly rent by 53 then divide it over 26.5 payments.
If you pay by Direct debit
- We will have made these changes from the start of the financial year for you and you do not need to do anything.
If you pay by standing order or use any other payment method, you will need to make the adjustments to ensure your new weekly charges are paid from 1 April 2024 up until and including week commencing 31 March 2025 to ensure all charges are paid.
If you have any questions or need any support with this, please contact us on 01623 463463 or email mdc@mansfield.gov.uk.