Council Trying to screw us: Need help

BitterAndTwisted

The past is the past. Just concentrate in dealing with the here and now or you'll go round the bend.

I can almost guarantee that they will not attempt to evict you for the sake of a hundred quid. It will cost them more than that to take you to court.

Their systems automatically generate these letters and they always make the situation sound much more grave than it really is but you have to keep on top of this yourself. Their system should have the facility to have notes placed on it about what contact you have made and what documentation you have supplied. Ask them about fast-tracking your application with the Benefits Section

clutton_2

RuggedKnight - no Rusted Knight... am deffo going dyslexic in my maturity Rachel !!!!

Madjock

I work for a HA so I don't know if the system differs when you rent from the council and get HB, but you should have been getting letters from HB and the council as your landlord surely? Do you mean you've not received letters from HB? And evicting someone is a long process, certainly for social tenants. It sounds to me like you have had an NSP, and most likely have had previous NSPs if you have had difficulties before. If the council have been to court on these NSPs before, you have most likely had a suspended possession order, which is why the process may seem as if it has escalated very quickly now. It is your responsibility to provide information to HB and even if you haven't received letters from the council as your l/l, you must surely be aware of how much of your rent is being paid by HB?

RustedKnight

Madjock wrote: »

I work for a HA so I don't know if the system differs when you rent from the council and get HB, but you should have been getting letters from HB and the council as your landlord surely? Do you mean you've not received letters from HB? And evicting someone is a long process, certainly for social tenants. It sounds to me like you have had an NSP, and most likely have had previous NSPs if you have had difficulties before. If the council have been to court on these NSPs before, you have most likely had a suspended possession order, which is why the process may seem as if it has escalated very quickly now. It is your responsibility to provide information to HB and even if you haven't received letters from the council as your l/l, you must surely be aware of how much of your rent is being paid by HB?

All of our rent was being paid by housing benefit. We knew that, we knew that every day until the day we recieved the letter saying that we owed them a lot of money.

Is it really our job to constantly phone the Housing benefit office to double check we're getting our rent paid, or can we rely on the fact that they are competent enough to make phone calls/post letters outlining that fact.

As for the whole post going missing thing, I'm the first to the post every day, because the postman always wakes me up in the morning between 7.50am and 8.20am. There's no head in the sand on this one, the letters never arrived.

clutton_2

Check that the council have your correct address. They still get mine wrong after 12 years occasionally. Yes it is your responsibility to make sure you pay your rent - how that happens is up to you to make it happen... its what the govern ment call tenant self-determination.

RustedKnight

I see. So not only do I have to get a reciept for anything I do in the council offices, I have to harrass and check up on everything they do.

So, in other words, I have to have absolutely zero faith in them whatsoever, and that way, if I push, bully and harass them all the time, we'll get along.

I'm going to clear this up and go private sector. This is ridiculous.

Madjock

Lol, you think it will be better if you rent in the private sector? Private landlords don't have a social responsibility. You can jump up and down and scream all you like, it is ultimately your responsibility to pay your rent. What you do to check that is happening is up to you, but if I hadn't had a rent statement in some time I think I would have chased one up, and if your wife had worked more hours you should have known it would make a difference to your benefits.

I've been in mortgage arrears, without the benefit (pardon the pun) of Hb or any other benefit to fall back on, so I know it's stressful, but you are in a far better position than an awful lot of people (especially the private rented sector with LHA). The sooner you realise the world isn't responsible for your problems the sooner you will be a calmer individual.

RustedKnight

I'm in a far better position than an awful lot of people? I used to be homeless, and life was better.

I don't need peoples critiscisms here. I came here for guidance and all you're effectively telling me is that it's all my fault that I didn't constantly check up on the council, and that i'm scum for not paying my rent.

Well, i'm bloody sorry that I trusted my local council. Now I know better. Thanks for making me feel worse about everything.

tbs624

RustedKnight - what is being said to you is right. It's not about people trying to make you feel wretched.

When you are in receipt of benefits, the paperwork states quite clearly that you, as the claimant have to notify all/any changes in your personal circumstances at the earliest opportunity.

It is highly likely that you will have been sent several letters from both the LHA/HB office and from the Council as your LL. If you are receiving other mail sent out by the Council it sounds far less plausible that several separate letters referring specifically to reduction in benefit and the accrual of debt on your rent account have all mysteriously failed to reach your letterbox.

As some of the others have said, whether or not your rent payment is usually met by HB/LHA the tenancy is in your name and it's ultimately your responsibility to ensure that the rent does get paid.

All that said, in your current situation you clearly need urgent help.

You can find out who your local Councillor ( and MP) is here

You could also try Community Legal Advice

0845 345 4 345

Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 8.00 pm, Saturday 9.00 am to 12.30 pm


(those on low incomes/benefits may qualify for free legal advice)


and/or Shelter on their helpline 0808 800 4444 ( free calls from landlines and major mobile networks)

8am-8pm Monday-Friday
8am-5pm Saturday-Sunday

You will have to be persistent as their lines are always busy.

Good luck with getting some support to sort matters out.

RustedKnight

How convenient. A letter in a pristine envelope arrived this morning, dated 21 Oct 2011 with all the information on it needed for us to sort out the money we "owe".

So I can now see that the council is charging us an extra £20 a week for the last 3 months because they have automatically assumed that because my partners hours went over 24 hours once, they will every month henceforth.

So I can now appeal, with her payslip data showing she has been under 24 hours, and have them deduct the amount from what they reckon we owe.

They're also apparently trying to claim £196 in council tax from 3 months ago to 31 march 2012 based on this one month she had overtime.

So, if I clear this up, in theorum, we'll only owe them a fraction of what they are demanding.