council flat arrears

Purplekylie22

I have rent arrears of £900, I live in a council flat with my two kids. I have been advised that if I was evicted then it is likely that becuase I have kids, the council will have to re-house me asap as they cant leave us on the streets.

Has anyone else had rent arrears with the council and gone bankcrupt? Im concerned about what will hapen to the flat...

Thanks.

skylight

Rent arrears should be included in bankruptcy. Its a debt.

BUT you are not a priority just because you have kids. If you continue to run up arrears after bankruptcy then you could be evicted in future years and you are not entitled to be re-housed just because of the kids. Non-payment of rent is making you intentionally homeless and they do not have to help under those circumstances. They do have an obligation to help as you have kids, but that is likely to be temporary housing such as hostel accommodation etc not a new home.

Purplekylie22

Hi Skylight, I am hoping that after the bankcrupcy there wont be any arrears, so I wont get in this situation again. I knew that it is included in bankcrupcy - Im concerened about the idea that because I have gone bankcrupt they might evict me - without giving me the chance to pay rent never mind get any more rent arrears... Trading Standards advised that becuase of the kids (aged 4 + 5) they would have to rehouse me. Im about 500 mile away from all of my family and on my own here except for the kids, if they eveicted me I would have no where to go and no one to help me move things - since I dont drive there is nothing I could do.

Broken_hearted

They could put you in a bedsit or refuse as you in effect made yourself homeless by not paying your rent. It has happened to other people on the boards.

shadowdragon

Question, dunno if im being thick or not understanding whats being said but....

The council evicts you for Rent arrears, but are obligated to rehouse you due to your children!!! Why would they evict you in the first place, seems pointless to me.

Purplekylie22

shadowdragon wrote: »

The council evicts you for Rent arrears, but are obligated to rehouse you due to your children!!! Why would they evict you in the first place, seems pointless to me.

Thats kind of what I thought... I was told that becuase I have a 4 year old and a 5 year old and NO where to stay the council would have to rehouse me - they cant leave me on the streets. I am intending to pay my rent every month, but I cant pay £900 for arrears...


I thought this board was meant to be for support. I didnt choose to be in this situation. I am trying to find out if any one has first hand experiance - telling me that me and my kids should have to live on the streets isnt going to help me any here. I AM a priorty because I have kids whether people like it or not.

RecoveringAlcoholic

Contact Shelter:

http://www.shelter.org.uk/

Purplekylie22

calling now, thank you.

Broken_hearted

Rent is an essential bill therefor one you must pay before anything else, no-one wants to see your kids on the street. The council don't have to rehouse you if they deem it to be your fault.

skylight

As I said, the council do not have to re-house you *if* they evict you. Having kids means that they have a responsibility of care, which will see you in temporary accommodation such as a hostel (if you were single you would be lucky if you got even that). You will be re-housed in time, but at the bottom of their list.

They are unlikely to evict you though, even with rent arrears included in bankruptcy. Most councils will write it off and will allow you to "start again" so to speak, as its not in their or your best interest to evict you. You need to call your council and see what their policy is though as they will differ.


And we are supporting you, not complaining because you have kids and no-one has suggested you will be on the streets in the unlikely event they kick you out. Trading Standards are not the people to speak to about this matter. Did you get through to Shelter? Did they help?

As mentioned, any new debt after BR will be treated differently.

shadowdragon

Purplekylie22 wrote: »

I thought this board was meant to be for support. I

Im not being unsupportive, I have no experience of these matters, but was just raising a bit of a paradox with the council if they were to evict you!!!!!

Also, if you ask a question on the forum theres a chance the answer to your question is not the one you want to hear, but if its fact its fact.

Sorry if I gave the impression of being unsupportive it was not my intention.

Shadowdragon.