Landlady chasing me for arrears I've not accrued HELP!

tbs624

jamiehamie wrote: »

I need a little advice about where I stand with my landlady.

I was previously living in rented accommodation with my wife. Our contract for rental expired on 04th February and we didn’t receive a new one.

My wife and I split up on 15th February and I moved out of the property. My ex-wife remained in the property and I know that the rent for February and March were paid in full.....

My ex is now one month in arrears and as she can’t pay it the landlady is chasing me for it. ........... I do feel I can prove that I wasn’t with my ex as I started paying maintenance for my kids and my ex began to receive housing benefit.

Any advice greatly appreciated as I’m being constantly harassed by the landlady.

My emboldening. Your ex needs to understand that HB/LHA is paid to help meet her housing costs and that she has to prioritise her rent payments. The LL can apply to have it paid direct to her if your ex is persistently in arrears. If she gets kicked out for non-payment of rent she will be deemed to have made herself homeless.

That said, you failed to give the LL appropriate written notice that you wished to leave the property so, despite you saying "I have stood my ground", you actually don't have that much ground to stand on if the LL personally chooses to pursue you as a party who has continuing joint and several liability.

Your ex needs to help sort this out too - she is presumably claiming LHA on the grounds that she is solely responsible for the rent which is not the case until you properly serve out that notice period.

HelenYorkshire

tbs624 wrote: »

My emboldening. Your ex needs to understand that HB/LHA is paid to help meet her housing costs and that she has to prioritise her rent payments.

True, but do bear in mind it can take 6-8 weeks :eek: for any benefit to actually get paid.

silvercar

Your ex needs to help sort this out too - she is presumably claiming LHA on the grounds that she is solely responsible for the rent which is not the case until you properly serve out that notice period.

Interesting.

As you are jointly liable as well as having a duty to provide a home for your children, it may be easier to pay the rent and reduce the maintenance you pay to your ex by the same amount.

Then when she receives LHA it will make up the maintenance to the correct level.

tbs624

HelenYorkshire wrote: »

True, but do bear in mind it can take 6-8 weeks :eek: for any benefit to actually get paid.

You are absolutely right Helen, but look back at what the OP actually said

jamiehamie wrote: »

... my ex began to receive housing benefit.

That differs from "made a claim for HB/LHA, which is currently being processed and is causing a delay in her ability to pay rent"