pending eviction 1st Feb, council rent arrears

bashful_lass

I have been a complete fool. I am 20 and was in care from 14 to 18. I was then allocated my own studio flat by the council, which I paid the rent on for 18-months. I had a little part time job but I was stupid and thought I was in love.

Eventually my boyfriend moved in and he suggested that he would pay the rent and I would pay the other bills and food.

After 4-months he then suggested that we move to his mums as he had a new temp job there (its about 300 miles away). We stayed there 2-months at the same time he said he would pay the rent on my flat and I continued to pay our food bills and contributed to the household bills.

Just before we were due to return, we broken up. I have moved back to my flat this week and I have now found out that he wasn't paying the rent all that time.

In fact, he was hiding my letters to cover himself. I trusted him and feel really let down. I came home this week to a pile of letters.

I went to see my social worker today and she said the arrears are £1800 (6-months) and the council will evict me unless I pay in full by 1st Feb. She said its too late to offer payment by instalments. I want to pay it off, even though I get only £60 a week to live off.

I am really confused and stressed and dont know where to turn.

Its all I have and I have no where else to go

BlushingRose

Have you actually spoken to someone at the council, or has the social worker spoken to them on your behalf? If it's the latter, if it were me, I would ring them up and arrange to meet with someone and explain exactly what had happened. (Had you b/f been put on the rent book or wasn't he officially living with you?)

susanne007

i was in arrears with the council 1200 without my husband knowing when it came out a lady came out and i told her everything and she has accepted normal rent plus 6.50 per week off the arrears have a chat to them you never know good luck x

Daddy-Spendless

its never to late to make payment by installments, i think your social worker is giving you some very bad advice saying that.

start paying your normal rent immediatly, and speak directly to your housing officer or the rent collection team about making an agreement to pay the arrears, if court action has started for a possesion order, its unlikly they will stop it, but instead of the judge giving them a possesion order, they may get a suspended possession order, suspended on condition that you pay rent + a weekly/monthly payment towards the arrears.

im not an expert just speaking from personal experience.

BitterAndTwisted

Why not post this over on the House Buying, Renting & Selling forum. There's a particular poster over there, Wee Willy Harris who I believe works in Local Authority housing. He may be able to advise you.

tallyhoh

What a load of rubbish your social worker is talking!. I was in housing (debt recovery) for years. The very last thing they want is to evict you, they have little chance of getting any money back then!

Go & see your housing officer ASAP, make sure you put in a claim for current housing benefit.

CH27

You social worker is talking rollocks.
Talk to the Housing people yourself & explain what has happened.
Are you claiming Housing benefit?

dancingfairy

What a horrid thing to happen I agree with the others - it's rarely too late to do anything. I am sure you can get this sorted.
df

bashful_lass

I want to hug you all!! Im near to tears!!

I will do as you say and talk direct to the housing/collections team. So far I have only spoken to them via my social worker. I have really been dreading it. just cant sleep. so stressed.

My boyfriend wasnt officially living with me. At the time I wasnt in receipt of any benefits. No housing, council tax or JSA. I have applied for them now.

When I speak to them do I need to tell them whats happened and background or should I just show that I am committed to paying the rent and arrears?

I will repost in the housing advice form. I feel so much better reading what has been written xx

BlushingRose

bashful_lass wrote: »

My boyfriend wasnt officially living with me. At the time I wasnt in receipt of any benefits. No housing, council tax or JSA. I have applied for them now.

If he wasn't actually living with you, but staying over now and then (at least that's what to tell them) then this shouldn't be an issue. Also, why weren't you getting any benefits?

bashful_lass wrote: »

When I speak to them do I need to tell them whats happened and background or should I just show that I am committed to paying the rent and arrears?

If it were me, I'd tell them the whole background of the your b/f offering to help with the bills and so you thought he was paying the rent and it's only now you realise he wasn't and you want to pay them off and stay in your flat.
Don't know if it's the right thing to do, but it's what *I* would do.

bashful_lass

BlushingRose wrote: »

If he wasn't actually living with you, but staying over now and then (at least that's what to tell them) then this shouldn't be an issue. Also, why weren't you getting any benefits?

I was working for in an office for about £12k a year gross and never made any benefit claims. I was a bit confused of what I can claim. To be honest, I still am. I was paying my bills and was happy.

I lost my job 1 month before we moved for his job. I know I should have claimed but I kept thinking I would find work. Its only now I understand this.