Facing eviction, a few questions

MrPrinny

I have been renting at my current appartment for six years without any problems through a housing association.

Recently the work with my company has dried up and as a result I have no income.

I have applied for Job Seekers Allowance and housing benefit.
I was told that if my housing benefit is accepted then it will be £98 a week when my rent is around £125.

So every penny of my housing benefit and JSA (assuming they are both accepted) would only just cover my rent.
This would leave me with no cash left over for food/bills etc.

Obviously I will be looking for work, but the way things are currently, it's doubtful of me finding anything immediately.

I have spoken to my housing association who have told me that under no circumstances will they allow late rent due to any circumstances (fun bunch of people!) and as a result will likely be issued an eviction order.

Both my parents are dead and I have no siblings or friends with a spare bed/couch for me to move into.
This will leave me homeless.

1. Is there anyway for the local council to increase my housing benefit to match my rent?

2. Will me being homeless if my rent is not paid a factor in the councils decsion?

3. If the council refuses to pay the extra rent is there any way I can claim other money for food/bills?

4. If I am unable to claim housing benefit for some reason, can the council legally LET me become homeless?

Thanks in advance for any replies

car25

Your best bet would be to ring Shelter, they will have all that information and are very very helpful.

Depth_Charge

MrPrinny wrote: »

I have been renting at my current appartment for six years without any problems through a housing association.

Recently the work with my company has dried up and as a result I have no income.

I have applied for Job Seekers Allowance and housing benefit.
I was told that if my housing benefit is accepted then it will be £98 a week when my rent is around £125.

So every penny of my housing benefit and JSA (assuming they are both accepted) would only just cover my rent.
This would leave me with no cash left over for food/bills etc.

Obviously I will be looking for work, but the way things are currently, it's doubtful of me finding anything immediately.

I have spoken to my housing association who have told me that under no circumstances will they allow late rent due to any circumstances (fun bunch of people!) and as a result will likely be issued an eviction order.

Both my parents are dead and I have no siblings or friends with a spare bed/couch for me to move into.
This will leave me homeless.

1. Is there anyway for the local council to increase my housing benefit to match my rent?

2. Will me being homeless if my rent is not paid a factor in the councils decsion?

3. If the council refuses to pay the extra rent is there any way I can claim other money for food/bills?

4. If I am unable to claim housing benefit for some reason, can the council legally LET me become homeless?

Thanks in advance for any replies

Hi

Following on from the previous poster

Useful Citizens Advice link on rent arrears, homlessness rights etc that might help -

http://mymoney.nedcab.org.uk/moneyadvice/rentarrears.asp

Best wishes

G_M

Post on the 'Benefits' board.

MrPrinny

Depth_Charge wrote: »

Hi

Following on from the previous poster

Useful Citizens Advice link on rent arrears, homlessness rights etc that might help -

Best wishes

Appreciated, will check out that site and contact Shelter in the morning.

ragecake

Welcome to the government, There's actually a thread on the benefits board about how most people on benefits are having to pay at least a third of their rent themselves, even whilst they're on so little.

Mozzanov

A horrible situation to be in, but hopefully resolvable.

Check if the Housing Association is part of any home swap services. You might be able to find someone to swap properties with (to one that's cheaper). The property doesn't have to be in the same area you currently reside within, for what it's worth (e.g. if siblings and friends are in another area and you want to be closer to them).

pmlindyloo

There is the 13 weeks rule for HB.

If you have not claimed HB within the last 52 weeks and you have been able to pay the full rent yourself previously (which sounds like you have then) then the full rent will be paid for 13 weeks.

This is to give you time either to 1) find a job or 2) find a cheaper property.

Ask at your local housing office about this.

agrinnall

How many bedrooms does you flat have? If it's more than one then under the new rules there is no chance of getting HB to pay for under occupancy( except perhaps temporarily as pmlindyloo has suggested) and you will either have to pay the extra yourself or move to somewhere that is regarded as the correct size for one person.

silvercar

To be evicted, solely for rent arrears, you would need to owe 8 weeks rent on the day that the notice is served and at the court date. So you have some time to consider your options.

mart.vader

Do you have a spare bedroom? Is getting a lodger prohibited by the Housing Assn conditions ?