Welfare Reform

Growurown

Depth_Charge wrote: »

Hi

I agree

This latest article paints a pretty disturbing picture in merseyside

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-23183352

Just look at the figures for people getting into arrears for the first time.

It is turning into a quagmire situation that can only get worse

They might have to pull it you know or at least review

My take as always

I have worked with two large housing associations now and both have said that they just don't have the smaller properties for people to move into, which makes this a really unfair policy.

Growurown

Benefits cap rolls out today.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23306092

Depth_Charge

Growurown wrote: »

Benefits cap rolls out today.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23306092

Hi

With talk of reducing it to £20,000

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23325667

The rent is one of the big issues with this

Growurown

Depth_Charge wrote: »

Hi

With talk of reducing it to £20,000

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23325667

The rent is one of the big issues with this

Agreed. The high cost of private rents makes this a concern.

I visited a local council estate last week. Many houses were boarded up and the reason given is that no one will take them on because they can't afford the bedroom tax.

Prothet_of_Doom

Under the rent a room scheme, would it have any impact to the housing benefit a person got.

I know there are 100 reasons why you might not want a stranger in your house, but a mate of mine kept himself out of morgage arrears by renting a room to a mature student.

Growurown

Prothet_of_Doom wrote: »

Under the rent a room scheme, would it have any impact to the housing benefit a person got.

No I don't think so. I think you still get reduced housing benefit but use the money you earn from letting the room to offset that.

Prothet_of_Doom wrote: »

I know there are 100 reasons why you might not want a stranger in your house, but a mate of mine kept himself out of morgage arrears by renting a room to a mature student.

Yes it is an option and most social housing organisations will now allow you to have a lodger, but the housing associations I have worked with have surveyed tenants about this and it is a very unpopular solution to the problem.

I've also known friends getting in a lodger to help pay the mortgage when things have gone pear shaped. In those cases because the house is owned there is a tangible gain by keeping up the repayments. When you rent there isn't.

LizinDevon

I am a tenant of 21 years with an assured tenancy agreement. I recieve £52 per week working tax credit as I have my own business, but it is seasonal, and just when my products were ready I lost the buisness. I now have to do the best I can with what I have left in order to make some money, plus have been offered some part-time work as a lecturer-but that is not until septemeber.
I can't afford the new council tax or rent that I have to pay from my £52 per week. I haven't had a hot meal since last weekend.
I can only forsee that I will be evicted as i have been issued ith a notice seeking possession and a letter satting that my social housing landlord is applying to the courts. My application to the local authorities for descretonary housing payment is still awaiting processing.
I don't have any money to move, there are no properties available, I have a 2 bedroomed home full of 21 years worth of furniture and belongings etc. There is nothing I can do. This is my home.
If I were to evict my cats and make them homeless there would be public outcry and I would be fined for cruelty to animals.
The council tax and underoccupancy penalty has resulted in a rent arrears that is beyond my control.

So, my question and any advice would be welcomed:
If it came to it and i am taken out of my home and therefore evicted, as I own the small shed in my garden and it is relatively new (about 3 years old- it was a present from my late mother), What would be the situation if I move into my shed after all it is my property. ?
I can easily put a bed and camping stove in there plus a compost toilet. I also have a little woodburner I could install to keep warm. I also have a small polytunnel that is my property I could use to store some of my things.. my family heirlooms passed down from generations, clothes etc
Technically those two buildings belong to me and the landlord, when I asked, have not offered to compensate for those items should I be evicted or if I were able to move.

I guess it is a desperate idea however a better solution than sleeping in my car. I also wouldn't be able to work at that point, I have a good chance of being offered another part-time job too but would have to leave that almost at the start of it.

Any ideas about living in my own property, my shed, in the garden would be great. Would I have any rights to stay in it as the shed belongs to me although the land garden) doesn't? There has always been a shed there that I have owned.

Thank you

Lizin Devon

Growurown

Hi Lizin,

I doubt very much you could live in the garden of the property even though the shed belongs to you.

Have you looked into claiming other benefits to help you with your living costs, JSA, Housing benefit etc? I think you should seek some professional advice. CAB or Shelter may be able to help and most councils have housing advice officers as it is the council's responsibility to help you if you are made homeless.

The process of eviction through the courts can take some time, and if you have to go to court it would be a good idea to have someone with you.

Please seek advice to make sure you are getting all the benefits you are entitled to and to see if there is anything else you can do to stop the eviction, or at least postpone it until your new job starts in September.

LizinDevon

DearGrowurown

Thank you for your reply. Are you are gardener?
Yes my shed though is a non-residentialproperty and does not belong to the housing association (HA). The land upon itdoes so technically I would be squatting the land (all of 8’ x 6’). I believethat even if the shed belonged to the HA, because it is a non-residential structure,it would be hard to evict me or remove me or my possessions from it. It would be a last resort tolive in it though.

Yes I applied for JSA and when it came to the interview we agreedthat it would be better to remain on working tax credits. (I don’t want to goon more benefits- I already receive working tax credit and some housing benefit).
The reason being is that I am working still as self-employed, tryingto grow some quick micro crops in the garden polytunnel for selling and producea few of my food products in my kitchen (my kitchen is passed for foodproduction by Environmental health)- although this is taking time before theproducts will be ready. I also am trying to wind up the non-living stock which is getting damaged as it is stored in an open barn.

Also I am working with a solicitor on a legal claim for damagesfor the larger part of my business that was destroyed (nearly 10,000 plants) (whichis taking a huge amount of time) and will be taking a couple of part-time jobs inaddition. I have told my landlord the Housing association that I am awaitingthe processing of my housing benefit claim and discretionary claim.
From what I gather I think that if a housing benefit assessment is still pending and this does goes to court the judge would frown on the housing association as to why they are not waiting for the outcome. My arrears do not amount to 2 months rent; my notice seeking possession is based on late payments due to reduction of housing benefit since April.

I thought I could try and fill up my car with a few things from myhome and take them to a car boot sale today to make some ready money but I don’teven have the money for the entry fee.. how sad is that!
I have enough diesel to get to the procedural teaching interview next Wednesday; other than that I am grounded.

I am not sure what to do. It is quite a quick result becoming physicallyweak because there isn’t enough food. I have never been in this situation before,food is one of my passions-that is the core of my business, however I need thecalories as my work is mainly practical; I am just losing all my muscles, mystrength and I feel tired all the time. I used to teach healthy eating to families;this is not right.

The new welfare reform act may be trying to support the governmentto reduce their debts by supposedly saving on their welfare expenses but atwhat expense, not just financial, to others? By trying to do so the government are enforcing poverty, stressand homelessness on a huge scale to people whom are already struggling financially;eventually people will be sick or too weak to work.
LisinDevon

Growurown

Hi Lizin,

Have you looked into food banks in your area? You could apply to see if you can get a free food parcel. You could try approaching your local church to see if they can provide any help. Could you ask family and/or friends to help?

I'm really sorry to hear about the loss of your business, and yes I am a gardener but only small scale.

I think if you can go to court and show you are doing everything in your power to sort out your rent problems you may have a chance of deferring the eviction. Have you called housing benefit and made them aware of your situation? They might be willing to speed up your claim.

Have you thought about selling stuff on Ebay?

Quite often the local newspaper will let you advertise stuff for free if you have got things you can sell.

Have you got any old broken gold jewellery you could cash in?

I hope you can get something sorted out soon.

Best Wishes
G.