Techie tenants, who live in homes managed by Brent Housing Partnership (BHP), are logging on in their droves to pay their rent online.

In 2006, hundreds of tenants logged on to the BHP website www.bhphousing.co.uk to pay nearly £300,000 in rent - an all time record high amount.

BHP finance director, Gary Chase, said: "There are many ways for our residents to pay their rent, but on line is one of the easiest.

"There is no need to go out to the Post Office or PayPoint shop on a cold winter's day. Instead, tenants can simply log on from the comfort of their own home and in three easy steps have their rent paid."

Leaseholders, who have bought their own home, can also pay their service charges in the same way. Last year 171 residents paid their service charges online.

Gary said: "BHP wants to make it as easy and simple as possible for tenants and leaseholders to pay their rent and service charges."

Residents who don't have internet access at home can always pay their bills by direct debit. After filling in a simple form, rent can be collected weekly or monthly, and tenant without computers can also pay rent without leaving the comfort of their own home.