Cant pay my rent.....landlords advice needed

xx_Jo_xx

I have lived in my rented house for about 2 and a half years.....

I have always paid my rent on time and have never had a problem. However the company I work for (I think) are going into administration and my wages havent been paid.

I literally have no money to pay my rent.... What do i do? Where do I stand?

Obviously I want to find another job and get paying and paid again as quickly as I can, but what can the landlord do if Im not paying my rent!?

kira_akira

I can only offer advise about the UK market, well the English market as Scotland is very different!!

If you cannot pay your rent, the best thing to do is to tell your landlord as soon as possible!!

Most landlords are decent people (Like Me) and when told ahead of time plans can be made. If you wait for him to notice, he will not be happy!!

If however you come really unstuck and can't pay, he cannot simply Kick you out!

There is a process. He must start the eviction process. This can be quite drawn out.

There are rare circumstances, where tenants infact tell landlords "I can't pay your rent anymore, if I can stay "X" amount of days, I will be out with no arguement".

This ofcourse means that the landlord saves the time and money needed to evict someone legally.

That is if he trusts you!!

There are some landlords, and I have met several! Who if rent is late, and upon confronting you there is no chance of seeing the rent again, they will intimidate you to leave ASAP! Again avoiding charges and time of eviction.

And sadly there are those landlords who will forcabley remove you. Normally waiting for you to leave and then changing the locks and throwing your stuff out!

These last 2 are Illegal!!

However!! The intimidating one does mean you leave on your own accord, so nothing can be done, but the forcefull one can be reported to the police!!

DawnW

I am so sorry, what a rotten situation to find yourself in! I am not an expert (but I am a landlord). I would advise speaking to the LL immediately and explain what has happened, if possible before the rent due date. Obviously I don't know how s/he will react, but if it was me (given the tenant had always paid on time previously etc) personally I would give you time to sort it out. Do be aware though that some LLs need the rent to make the mortgage payments, and it might put him/her in a difficult position too.

You also need to seek advice immediately re benefits just in case you do not find another job straight away. Keep your LL informed as to progress at all times.

Good luck, hope all works out well for you x

xx_Jo_xx

Thanks for your advice - I will ring them now..... xx

FuzzyMoose

Good luck with the call, let us know how you get on.

Jowo_2

Hopefully as you've been a good tenant, these were circumstances outside of your control and you have informed your landlord as soon as you could, your landlord will be understanding and will just want a commitment for you to pay off any arrears and be kept updated with progress.

The Shelter site has clear information about the worse case scenario, should the landlord serve notice on you, plus they have info on how local council's deal with those being made homeless, should an even worse case scenario happen and you can't find onward accommodation.

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/eviction/preventing_eviction
http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/eviction/eviction_of_private_tenants

theartfullodger

As above and if there is a local CaB go see them for advice as well, both housing & re. loosing your job..
http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/


Explain the administrators of your employer your circumstances Unlikely they will help but you never know.

Sorry to hear your story: Good luck in the future..


Lodger

missile

I would be evry pleased if a tennat phoned to tell me rent would be late and explained. With a tennat of 2.5 years I would give some lattitude. If it were a tennat who had been there only a month or two, I might be less sympathetic.

Goodluck in finding a new job. Meanwhile, I guess you will be signing on and should be able to pay your rent then?

xx_Jo_xx

I phoned the estate agents who act for my landlord (as he lives overseas) and explained to them that I hadnt been paid and that the company had gone into administration (I think).

She said that she would pass a message to the accounts department and I said I would let them know what was happening as soon as I had any more information.

Originally when my house had been advertised, it was listed as no DSS, which wasnt ever a problem as I have always worked. I asked her about this and she said that as long as the rent was able to be paid, they wouldnt have a problem with it and in the mean time she advised just to keep them up to date with what was happening that was fine. She advised that if I can afford to make small payments, as and when I can, she said that would be good but not to worry if I couldnt. As long as they were aware of what was going on, that was fine.

Pee

I would pay as much as you possibly can - on the grounds that a home is a priority.

theartfullodger

I phoned the estate agents who act for my landlord (as he lives overseas)

Hhmmmmnn interesting.... Landlord & Tenant Act 1987 Section 48 requires that the tenant must be given an address in England where notices can be served on the landlord – the address does not have to be that of the landlord. Rent is not lawfully due until this is complied with.

See..http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/landlord%27s_address.htm

So, check your paperwork and see if you were given this. It is quite common & legal for the address to be given c/o the letting agent.... but this might give you some breathing space if the rent ain't due...


Cheers!

Lodger (A Landlord)