Rent Arrears

Gettingitright_3

I hope this is the right section to post this?

I currently have 900 rent arrears, 1.5 months. I am currently paying my rent every month of 600 but struggling to pay off the arrears.

Is it possible that my landlord takes the arrears out of my deposit which is a 1000, this is protected by the NLA?

Thank you

poppysarah

And what deposit would they have to claim against if you trash the place.

If you can't manage the repayment rate ask for it to be reduced.

Gettingitright_3

Thanks for your reply, it was just an idea. I was wondering if I could build up the deposit again paying monthly. My landlord would like 200 per month extra to pay off the arrears but doing my SOA etc I can only afford 30. He is a very understanding landlord I have to say, just wanted to check out my idea first.

poppysarah

Put your SOA on here and we'll find some cuts.

30 a month would take 30 months.

princeofpounds

It's especially critical for you that you don't fall below 2 months overdue. This is (usually, depending on the contract form) the point at which the landlord can use your arrears as a reason to seek possession of the property through the courts.

In one sense you are lucky - £600 is a lot of money but it is an amount that with some hard work you can do something about and hopefully preserve your relationship with your landlord.

May I ask what sort of job you do? I would have thought it would be worth upping your income somehow as well as looking for costs to cut, just to shave down the time it takes to be free and clear.

N79

princeofpounds wrote: »

It's especially critical for you that you don't fall below 2 months overdue. This is (usually, depending on the contract form) the point at which the landlord can use your arrears as a reason to seek possession of the property through the courts.

In one sense you are lucky - £600 is a lot of money but it is an amount that with some hard work you can do something about and hopefully preserve your relationship with your landlord.

May I ask what sort of job you do? I would have thought it would be worth upping your income somehow as well as looking for costs to cut, just to shave down the time it takes to be free and clear.

With 1.5 months of rent outstanding (900 on a monthly rent of 600) I'm sure the OP already meets the Section 8 Ground 8 criteria for eviction (2 months rent unpaid) if the LL wanted to go down that route (and assuming fairly standard payment terms of monthly in advance). The OP's home is already at risk!

I agree that OP's priority is to agree a realistic payment plan with the LL. Personally, GBP30 per month is a !!!! take amount (taking 30 months to pay off 1.5 months arrears!) so I also agree that the OP should make every effort to pay extra, even if this is only on an ad hoc basis to keep the relationship with the LL intact.

BitterAndTwisted

I'd be prioritising rent-arrears over and above any other liabilities even if that meant making token payments for other things like credit-cards. And possibly food, too. Plus, I'd be having a look at the Local Authority's website to see whether any LHA might be available.

DawnW

Your LL would be unlikely to be allowed to take money from your deposit in the way you suggest in any case.