Overpayment to a letting agency

Jumpy1975

Hi I was hoping someone may be able to give me some advice.

I have been receiving housing benefit with LHA added on to it, I have been just paying this lump sum straight to the letting agency I am with. Recently the LHA was taken away and worried I was not receiving the right amount looked into it further, and was told that the LHA was added on but was intended for me, and that now I was getting the correct amount. So my question is; Am I entitled to the excess, I was paying, back from the letting agency?

dodger1

Jumpy1975 wrote: »

Hi I was hoping someone may be able to give me some advice.

I have been receiving housing benefit with LHA added on to it, I have been just paying this lump sum straight to the letting agency I am with. Recently the LHA was taken away and worried I was not receiving the right amount looked into it further, and was told that the LHA was added on but was intended for me, and that now I was getting the correct amount. So my question is; Am I entitled to the excess, I was paying, back from the letting agency?

How much is your rent and how much have you been paying the agency?

Jumpy1975

dodger1 wrote: »

How much is your rent and how much have you been paying the agency?

My rent is £385 pcm and I was receiving £196.16 per fortnight and am now receiving £177.70 per fortnight

rogerblack

I am unsure if it is possible to request the money back simply.
However, if you have a positive balance built up with them by overpaying on your rent, it should be quite possible to simply pay less one month to remove this balance.
Do contact them first, and find out what your actual current balance is, and what you plan to do.

Naf

The letting agency should only have been receiving (or taking) the amount of rent you were contractually obliged to pay them. Really they should have noticed, but when it comes every fortnight (I get them impression that you were passing it through to them this often too?), then it isn't immediately obvious. It's only £7.30 per month difference over a short period, but over a longer stretch it goes up to £40 per month. Contact the letting agent and point out that you've overpaid, ideally work out how much yourself and just suggest deducting it from coming rent payments as you're essentially in credit with them.
Out of interest, how long has this been happening?

Jumpy1975

rogerblack wrote: »

I am unsure if it is possible to request the money back simply.
However, if you have a positive balance built up with them by overpaying on your rent, it should be quite possible to simply pay less one month to remove this balance.
Do contact them first, and find out what your actual current balance is, and what you plan to do.

Thank you for your advice. I only found out today and have an appointment with them tomorrow.

Jumpy1975

Naf wrote: »

The letting agency should only have been receiving (or taking) the amount of rent you were contractually obliged to pay them. Really they should have noticed, but when it comes every fortnight (I get them impression that you were passing it through to them this often too?), then it isn't immediately obvious. It's only £7.30 per month difference over a short period, but over a longer stretch it goes up to £40 per month. Contact the letting agent and point out that you've overpaid, ideally work out how much yourself and just suggest deducting it from coming rent payments as you're essentially in credit with them.
Out of interest, how long has this been happening?

I only found out today and have booked an appointment to see them tomorrow. Your right I was paying my cheque in every fortnight. This has been going on for 3 years