The campaign, which encourages tenants to switch to the ease and convenience of Direct Debit, is run by Bacs Payment Schemes Limited (Bacs), the not-for-profit organisation behind Direct Debit in the UK.

Open to housing associations, local authorities and arms-length management organisations (ALMOs) across the UK, the campaign runs until 30 October 2015, but those taking part can choose when they participate within that period. And, with over six months of the campaign left to run, there is still time to get involved.

For all those signing-up, there is a range of free marketing materials available to help promote payment by Direct Debit and organisations will benefit from a collective approach, which is far more effective and efficient than an individual initiative.

As part of the new campaign, tenants will also be in line for a welcome cash windfall with five centrally-funded prizes of £1,000 worth of Love2shop vouchers up-for-grabs, offering an attractive incentive for people to change the way they pay their rent.

Automated payments are cheaper to process than the likes of cash and cheque, while also helping to ensure housing rent is paid on time. But there are advantages for tenants, too; paying this way is convenient, simple and offers peace-of-mind that rent payments won’t be forgotten or missed, plus payments are protected by the Direct Debit Guarantee in the unlikely event of an error.

Bacs’ housing sector specialist, Dawneth Perry, said: “We’ve had a great response to the campaign so far, with 24 housing providers already participating and there’s still time to get involved.

“As it is a collective initiative, organisations can take advantage of the free marketing resources and will be able to promote the prizes to their tenants. Better still, they will all benefit from the long term advantages of converting their tenants to Direct Debit.”

Others to have signed the campaign are: Amicus Horizon, Broadacres Housing Association, City West Homes, Colchester Borough Homes, Elim Housing, Golding Homes Ltd, Hackney Homes, Halton Housing Trust, Homes for Sedgemoor, Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing, Magna Housing Group, Royal Borough of Greenwich, Rugby Council, Rykneld Homes, Severn Vale Housing, Shropshire Towns and Rural Housing, Solihull Community Housing, Spitalfields Housing Association, Stockport Homes, Swindon Borough Council, Tai Calon Community Housing Ltd, Two Rivers Housing and Wrekin Housing Trust.