Homelessness & Croydon Council

sniggings

PippaGirl wrote: »

Blushing Rose, the Government is about to end HB for under 25's totally so if the 18 year old doesn't stay home they will end up on a park bench so housing him separately is not really an option. Also she'd lose her CB and CTC for him which more than covers the cost of their living there so she'd be worse of financially too.

please don't give out wrong information, the Government is not stopping housing benefit for under 25s soon, the Tories have said that in their next manifesto they are looking at stopping HB for 25s, which if they even get in again and it gets past by Parliament is at least 2 years away.

BarbaraJ5

barnaby-bear wrote: »

Can you post on the debt free wannabe board, you shouldn't be paying the debts if it means you are endangering your housing options? Benefits are for subsistance living not furnish past debts - you may well be better off going bankrupt or having the debt charities negotiate.

Hi,
I will def check out that board! The debts aren't past debts and were accumulated last year when i did a comparison for cheaper fuel online. I was signed up with 3 different companies, including the one i am with all at the same time. By December i was in debt to each of them for over 300 per provider. I contacted Trading standards, because i hadn't signed any agreement and had only searched for quotes, so should not have been signed. It took 3 months before i found out all of this as i have everything on direct debit. I found no help so was stuck with these debts. I also have never used my rent money to pay debts or anything else. I was receiving HB into my account every 2 weeks and not once did i miss a payment. The shortfall is what got me into arrears, because i didn't know anything about them until January when HB wrote saying some allowance was going to be stopped. My letting agents does not appear to know anything about rent and have never said anything about the rent being short until this year and we've lived here since 2010!

With that being said, the rent is being paid as is the arrears, so i don't see how anyone could say i'm making myself intentionally homeless.

To my knowledge, making ones self intentionally homeless is KNOWINGLY withholding rent due to the landlord and that I AM NOT doing or ever had thought of doing.

As for bankruptcy and IVA's i did look into those and had been advised it would be better to go through a DMP, my debts are under 5k. I have done that, but it takes about 3 months before my creditors will see a penny, so i make token payments to the biggest ones. The utility debts i'm paying direct. I don't think it will take me 3 years to clear everything off, as i live a very basic lifestyle and will not be accumulating any further debts, other than what will be enforced on me through the courts for the possession of this property.:)

BarbaraJ5

BlushingRose wrote: »

I think I'd get myself down to the CAB for advice if it were me.

Your 18 year old is old enough to be housed separately, not ideal I know, but that might be how the council will see it.

Please do what we on the debt-free wannbe thread tend to ask for, a SOA, a statement of affairs which might highlight where some savings can be made which will help with the debts.

Hi,

My son isn't going to look for a separate home, because he doesn't want to leave home and as he's under 25 will get no support at all with rent etc, so it makes no sense for the council to even consider that an option. They can't force him to leave home simply because of his age. It will obviously be cheaper for him to stay at home with us, rather than adding to the list.

sniggings

Barbara, reading your letter the council seems not to be classing you are making your homeless, so that is not a worry, you do though have to make sure you keep paying your rent and wait to be evited by the courts or they will say you have made yourself homeless, they then will help you, it might be a BB or they might give you a council house or it could be them helping you find a private rental, the help can take many forms, it does not have to be a council house.

Your best bet is to start looking for a private rental, some do not do credit checks, you may be lucky and find somewhere you like, if not the only thing you can do is wait and see what form the help the council offer you when evited.

terryw

Barbara

You look to be trying.

Regarding the 3 lots of energy suppliers. Are you saying that you have paid three times for one lot of energy? Or was it just a muddle because of the changes and the correct amount has been charged?

Regarding,the arrears of rent, it is really your responsibility to check that the full amount is being paid. I know that this can be difficult if you are paying some and HB is paying some,but it is down to you. The worry is that the council could well take the arrears as "intentional homeless".

As it is a Section 21 (not 8) the arrears might not even be a problem. It is a good idea to try to reduce the arrears in any event,but really all that you can do is wait until you get word for the reason for the Sec 21. Bear in mind that this is a no-fault section and they may not even tell you. I re-iterate that it might be a good idea to contact the landlord direct to try to find out more.

At present, it looks (as other posters have pointed out) as though you must just wait for the court hearing and the possession warrant before the council will help very much. Keep the council up to date though.

bw

BarbaraJ5

starframe18 wrote: »

Hi, just ignore those who don't say anything helpful on here. Benefits are always a sore subject. I don't live in croydon but I received a sec 21 with no reason on it. The homeless team will contact them over why it was given so try as find out yourself first. I didn't have rent arrears but told them I couldn't guaranteed the rent every month. I have 2 children so they found me a place in a hostel about 20 mins drive away from my old house. Its not great but better than being on the street. The cannot guarantee any area so I have to wait and see as it takes 6 months or more to be rehoused. They weren't helpful until I moved into the hostel as I presume they are trying to see if you have somewhere else to go. I know a lady with 3 children in here, the youngest child is 14 and they are trying to be house together. Debt free wannabe wasn't any good for me, there advise was not to save for birthdays and christmas lol. how would I tell my kids. It wouldn't have paid my £150 a month shortfall.
Sorry I'm going on but just to say that your not alone and just be ready for whatever they say or do.

Hi hun,

I know, i appreciate those who take the time to write useful and helpful advice and give those with nothing good to say exactly what they deserve - No Attention!.

BarbaraJ5

Mara69 wrote: »

Ultimately, Barbara, you are completely dependent on the Government. You need them to feed you, clothe you and house you and your children. Therefore, you have to abide by their rules. I would advise the following:

Follow the council's advice in respect of your S21 notice. Stay put until you are actually evicted. Use this time to look for alternative accommodation. If the council offer you a B&B or other short term housing you'll have to accept it or find another private rental. You have no choice in this matter. It won't be pleasant but better than a bus shelter. Go to the the Debt Free Wanabee board for help and advice on how best to mange your benefits. As others have pointed out, you are hardly on the breadline and clearly need help in managing your money.

Hi,

Thanks for your advice. Sadly, you are right i have no choice at the moment. I will not move until the procedure for the possession of the property is processed, as i know the outcome will be homeless and the loss of my children. I am already living off a budget and have done since last year.

BarbaraJ5

PippaGirl wrote: »

Yes I agree with starframe. I've gone over my tenancy waiting for the council to help me and they did find me something and I moved a few weeks later. It is stressful not knowing where you will be put as you have no choice at all but the homeless team do their very best to meet your needs and do all they can. Previously I'd been on the homeless list and then out of fear of the unknown found another private tenancy myself but less than a year later was asked to leave as the owners unexpectedly needed to return to live there so the second time I knew I needed more security than moving every few months so decided to wait it out stressful though it is. Hang in there.

Hi PippaGirl, thanks for your input. I will be over the S.21 period to leave on the 1st of Nov and i'm not sure how they'll react when they find we're still in the house. This is all new to me, never had to depend on the govt for anything until i left my abusive ex husband. It is stressing me out, because i dont have the option of deciding on what or where my family is place, but i accept that its apart of life and will not be for the rest of my life. I just can't wait to be on my feet again and being able to come off these benefits completely.:)

BigAunty

BarbaraJ5 wrote: »

...

With that being said, the rent is being paid as is the arrears, so i don't see how anyone could say i'm making myself intentionally homeless.

To my knowledge, making ones self intentionally homeless is KNOWINGLY withholding rent due to the landlord and that I AM NOT doing or ever had thought of doing.

Here is the definition of intentional homelessness

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/homelessness/help_from_the_council/applying_as_homeless/intentional_homelessness

BarbaraJ5

PippaGirl wrote: »

and personally I don't know anyone living on benefits by choice.

THANK YOU! People who think this way tend to be very ignorant to the fact that some of us fall on hard times through no fault of our own and need some support getting back up. Perhaps, they should pray never to be in that situation and God forbid, they ever need public assistance!!:whistle:.