Keeping up appearances.......

Boomfloom

brizzledfw wrote: »

if she can't pay she'll have to go.

brizzledfw you are talking about a human being who is probably struggling as much (if not more) than Mrs Happy. Please have some compassion. This thread is not "no DSS, no pets, no students" unlike most of the flat offers.

As a private tenant on housing benefit, I thought I would add to this. The councils are notorious in taking ages to give you your housing benefit. It's not the tenant's fault she lost her job. I would say: give her a chance because finally the council will pay up, Mrs Happy will get what she is due and won't have to look for a new tenant. It is far better economy than instigating costly eviction proceedings that can take half a year to enforce and just leave a bad taste in your mouth.

(Mrs Happy, if you haven't already done so, look up the local housing allowance in your area - the housing benefit might not cover the whole rent especially if the tenant has more rooms than she should (eg child-free singletons under 35 can only share accommodation - not entitled to a one-bedroom flat.)

HappyNow

Thanks for the input Brizzle and Boomfloom, much appreciated .

So far I'm not worried that my tenant won't pay. I could do without the delay, but she has already submitted her Housing Benefit claim and I think the rent money will come through within a few weeks. We're all careful to protect our anonimity on here, but I don't think it's giving too much away to say that I actually work in social housing - at the pointiest part of the sharp end in fact! My work is completely seperate to the property I own and rent out, but twenty years in my job has given me a reasonable confidence in judging a tenant's attitude towards rent payments and I do trust this particular tenant to pay. She has been there over a year now and never been late with the rent, she looks after the property really well and she gets along with the neighbours. She likes the house and wants to live there, and I would be devastated if she moved out! Fingers crossed this is just a little blip and by next month things will be back to normal. The rent is within the Local Housing Allowance (thanks for the thought Boomfloom) so that shouldn't cause a problem.

Having said all that, I completely understand where Brizzle is coming from when she says "if she can't pay she'll have to go". Although it definitely doesn't apply in this case, there are, unfortunately, some tenants who just won't (different to 'can't' I know) pay their rent, and if I should ever be unlucky enough to rent my house to someone like that I would have no hesitation in setting the wheels in motion to have them legally removed asap. I need the rent money to pay my mortgage and I just could not allow someone to live there rent-free while I accrue mortgage arrears! Anyway, luckily that's not the case here - the worst I have to face is a few weeks delay!

Phew, what a long post after writing nothing for two weeks

brizzledfw

Nice post Happy...yes sounds like a fair approach which is completely tailored to the person in question. Just didn't want you making your life more stressful!!

Noted boomfloom...it wasn't my intention to upset you, but make sure Mrs Happy stayed clear on her priorities and what she needs to do.

Have a good eve both

Brizzle

grannyx2

Hello Mrs Happy, just popping in to say :hello: as we've not chatted for a while. Hope things get sorted with your tenant asap.

Granny x

HappyNow

What a rubbish diary-keeper I am! The last few weeks have been very hard-going. We were hit by the worst of the snow and were completely stranded for several days. We were clambering over six foot drifts just to get off our own land, it was actually quite scary at times. A neighbour hired a JCB last week to clear our access lane so we can now get in and out.

Mr Happy's operation was due two weeks ago but it was cancelled due to the surgeon being ill. We were very disappointed at first, but then the snow came so I doubt they would have done it anyway, and if they did there is no way we could have got him home. His operation was re-booked, and he had it yesterday. He is still in hospital and all being well I pick him up today.

Our tenant caught up with last month's rent, but is short again this month . We just can't afford this and I have had to use credit card money to keep us afloat until she catches up, which is very disheartening. I have cut back as much as possible but both kids are home from uni for the holidays and our food bill has more than doubled. Mr Happy will now be off work sick for a few weeks so our petrol bills will go down, which I hope will off-set it.

Sorry I haven't been around much, life has just been so hectic and frankly not that pleasant at times. I have done a little lunch-time stalking at work on some of the diaries, so even if I haven't been able to post I have kept up with what's going on. Hope to be back to normal soon x

Fortune_Smiles

Nice to see you Happy but sorry to hear about your recent trials. I understand that this weekend will see a turn in the weather and things may get a little more back to normal. I hope so - I think a bit of warmth and sunshine would lift all our spiritis.

Take care

Fortune x

Newlywed_Saving_Ninja

Hi Happy, I have only just come across your diary, and I have subscribed as I am so "on your side" already just from reading your very first post. I look forward to following your journey and I am willing you on *waves cheerleader pompoms"

poohbear59

Hi Happy,
I really do sympathise with you being blocked in by snow. We were too and it isn't any fun at all. I hope Mr Happy does well and is home very soon.

Sorry to hear about your other troubles too with the tenant. I have had private bookings paying very late and costing us in bounced payments on the business account so know how difficult things can be.

FlacosFloozie

Sorry to hear about your recent troubles Happy. I hope Mr H recovers quickly from his op xx

chevalier

Hi Myrs Happy sorry to hear Mr needed an op. I hope that that is all sorted now. Sorry to hear about your tenant too. I hope that all is well, as you haven't posted for a while....
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