Can't afford rent anymore - help!

Poppycat

What about working tax credit.

try this site

http://www.entitledto.co.uk/

mrsausages

3 suggestions:

1. Prepare for the worst. Get youself on the council housing list. Speak to the council, they probably have a 'housing advice' department. Don't be afraid to talk to the homelessness section too. They exist to help prevent people in your situation becoming homeless.

2. Don't give notice until you have somewhere else to go. If you do and it goes wrong the coucil could say that you are intentionally homeless and not offer any help.

3. Talk to the agent. They may be able to help you out if you can help them. Offer to keep the property spotless (which I'm sure you do anyway!!) and suggest that you can show prospective new tenants round while you are still in. At the end of the day the landlord is in the business to make money. If they can see a way to minimise the void time when they don't get rent they should jump at it. They may then be able to be flexible with your notice or end the tenancy early.

This bit is not a suggestion its a slap on the wrist - never, ever lose your tenancy agreement ever again!!!! It is such an important document. Let's hope you don't but if you end up with an unscrupulous landlord in the future you may struggle to defend your rights if you cannot prove them in court.

Other people will give you better debt advice than me, but remember that if you don't pay the rent you lose your home. Get help with prioritsing the debt and get agreements with lower priority debtors. Apply for HB and CTB - if you get nothing you've lost nothing.

There are others who may be able to help if the landlord is not flexible - talk to CAB or go back to the local housing advice service. If you can't find anything local try https://www.shelter.org.uk

Kittenface_3

Thanx all really good advice. Spoke to council and the bloke said 'basically love because you've got no kids even if u present homeless to the council all u'll get for at least a yr is bedsit/hostel'!

Will try the smarmy git whoops i mean estate agent!

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

Yep, sounds like the position i'm in too - BUT i ahve a baby and now living on my own. They have told me we would need to go into B&B until they have a flat - I can barely afford to survive even with the benefits.

It becomes a mess, if you are over 25 you should get some Working Tax Credit at least. If not then it is hard - I was made redundant (no payout whatsoever) whilst pregnant and i'm still on maternity leave.

But you have to do some radical changes if poss - Like job huting for higher pay and cut back EVERYWHERE poss until you come accross something. That meens luxuries like cable/sky tv, take aways, make packed lunches, etc.

Trust me - i know how it is, when i was living in my last flat with my ex we experienced living on an income just above the threshold to recieve any benefits, but up to our ears in credit repayments - It catches you up when you least expect it. we then fell into a downward spiral one month and 2 years later i'm still trying to dig my way out.

Seriously, take all the helpful info you can get from people - alot of people here have experienced money probs so they usually know what they are talking about. I just wish i found this site before i realised how deep i'd got into problems - I'm on the way up now though, alot of thanks to peoples advice here!

Good Luck!!!!

F_T_Buyer

Before you move out when don't you tell the landlord, s/he might reduce the rent. You never know if you don't ask!