Can anyone help?

iluvdarius2003

I was wondering if anyone could possibly help me here? I'll explain my situation as best I can. My partner and I are looking to take out a loan but I don't know where to start. We are currently in a council house which we rent and we also have a baby son. I am a student and my partner is currently unemployed. We need a loan of about 8000-10000. We need this to pay off our council tax so that we can move as the house that we are in has got terrible damp and it is affecting our baby's health, but the council say there is no damp and don't want to know. We also have several other bills that we would like to pay and make into one monthly payment. We can afford monthly payments of about 160. Can anyone point me in the right direction as to where to start to apply? Also are we able to apply? Hopefully someone can help us! Thank you for reading.

Sarah

fast_track

Is your council tax bill with the bailiff or the council? Why do you have to pay your council tax before you can move? It is does not seem like a very good idea to take out a loan when you are on such a limited income. Also if you give up a council tenancy you will be deemed intentionally homeless if anything goes wrong. A council tenancy is very secure (more so even than a housing association)
Have you applied for Housing benefit and council tax benefit?
It is probably a good idea to see your local CAB as they will be able to help maximise your income, talk to the council about your arrears and housing conditions and help negotiate with your creditors so that you can reduce your outgoings on your other debts

iluvdarius2003

I guess that I didn't explain very well. Yes we are in reciept of housing benefit and council tax benefit, but we still have last year's to pay which is about £300. And then there is this years to pay also. As far as I know it is still with the council. We don't plan to give up our council tenancy, we wish to reapply with them for a new house but we asked at our local housing office and they told us that we had to have no outstanding debt on our account before they will consider us for a new house. My partner may be starting employment in the next couple of weeks which then means that our council tax jumps to over £1000 and rent of £300 a month so whatever we do we are going to be in debt.

Sarah

fast_track

Even when your partner starts work you still may be able to get some council tax and housing benefit. You may also get Working Tax Credit and Child Tax credit.

Is there any guarentee the council will rehouse you if you pay your council tax bill? If not it might be an idea to get an independent surveyor (CAB should be able to help with this) to do a report on your damp problem which you can give to the council.

Council's don't have much housing stock and are very good at getting their Council Tax in so I'd make sure that a move is really likely before I pay any more than a reasonable negotiated amount off your arrears on a week by week basis. At the moment I don't see that you should be asked for any more than £2.80 per week off the arrears although this does vary from council to council as to what they will accept

You could also get three quotes for the repairs your property needs and give these into the council, they can't refuse to carry out repairs because you owe them some council tax

good luck

Alien8_Hi%

We are currently in a council house which we rent and we also have a baby son. I am a student and my partner is currently unemployed. We need a loan of about 8000-10000. We need this to pay off our council tax

Yes we are in reciept of housing benefit and council tax benefit, but we still have last year's to pay which is about £300. And then there is this years to pay also.

Is the 8000 - 10000 figure correct? If it is I think you really need to refer to the Debt Free Wannabee forum http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?f=76
Contacting CAB is good advice. I would also reccomend giving the following site a try
http://www.cccs.co.uk/


Bloinootmahoop?

roger56

Go to your local Citizens Advice Bureau. Take a list of what you owe and what
you income is now and what you expect it to be when your partner gets employment. Their site is also very helpful, go here http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/getadvice.htm

Did you really mean to say you needed a loan of £800 - £1000?
Otherwise, £8000 - £10000 is a lot of money if you have no regular income and are on benefits. It will be very hard to get a loan this size in your situation.

Good Luck and really do consider talking to th CAB first, fast track also suggests this.

bonnie_2

they mean no outstanding rent arrears not council tax arrears this is diffent, my brother in law only had to pay back 5 a week.never borrrow money to pay money you will end up paying in interest.160 is a lot to find what if an emergency comes up.do you not pay your council tax monthly.if you cant afford rent and ct i dont think a loan is a good idea.