Desperately need help, can't pay rent, already in arrears :(

DrowningInDebt88

Looking for any help at all....

I lost my job around 4 months ago due to mental health issues and have been struggling to make ends meet ever since. I am already in rent arrears and now I cannot afford to pay all of my rent this month.

I can seen that for now my only option is to move back in with my mother but I can't afford to pay this months rent and bills let alone this month and next if I have to serve my notice period. What can I do?

Thanks

BigAunty

The Shelter website has good advice for tenants in rent arrears, including how to negotiate an early surrender of the tenancy agreement with the landlord and a repayment schedule.

Are you on a fixed term or periodic tenancy agreement? How much is the rent.

Have you claimed housing benefit and if so,does the level of HB cover the rent or have the council not yet processed your claim?

[Deleted User]

Speak to your landlord, they would most likely much rather terminate your tenancy early so that they can move a new paying tenant in than have you stick around stacking up more arrears.

G_M

Talk to your landlord. Given a choice between a tenant who hides financial issues & rent arrears, and a tenant who is honest about their problems, which do you think a landlord will be more sympahetic towards?

Ask to end the tenancy asap. If the alternative is simply greater arrears, the LL is likely to agree so they can get a new tenant in asap.

Oh - offer to be very helpful with viewings by new tenants, keep the place looking nice etc. It all helps the relationship!

DrowningInDebt88

Thank you for your replies.

I signed up for a 6 month contract but have been here 18 months now so only need to give a months notice but I can't pay the rent that was due on 27th march, have contacted agents to explain it is late and I am trying to find the money but my mum can't lend me anymore at the moment. I have put in a claim for hb but it is over £200 less than my rent and it's still being processed.

I just feel like it's all hopeless. My house is always clean and tidy so is be happy for people to come for viewings etc.

Do I just ring the agents (it's a managed property) and tell them I can't pay and need to leave?

G_M

see earlier replies:

BigAunty wrote: »

.... negotiate an early surrender of the tenancy agreement with the landlord ...

Speak to your landlord, they would most likely much rather.....

Talk to your landlord. Given a choice between....

KILL_BILL

DrowningInDebt88 wrote: »

Thank you for your replies.

I signed up for a 6 month contract but have been here 18 months now so only need to give a months notice but I can't pay the rent that was due on 27th march, have contacted agents to explain it is late and I am trying to find the money but my mum can't lend me anymore at the moment. I have put in a claim for hb but it is over £200 less than my rent and it's still being processed.

I just feel like it's all hopeless. My house is always clean and tidy so is be happy for people to come for viewings etc.

Do I just ring the agents (it's a managed property) and tell them I can't pay and need to leave?

you can make a claim for descretionary housing payment form counil to make up a shortfall from the council but there is no guarantee you will get it

jules8542

Sorry to hear of your problems both health and monetary. Have been to your local benefits office or citizens advice as they can check you are claiming algl you are entitled to, maybe disability living allowance is something you could also claim, but they could tell you and maybe speed things up. Even a crisis loan maybe offered for the shortfall. Phone them and make appointment to see someone in the know and this will take the pressure of you a little too.

Take care and good luck.

pineapple123

As others have said speak to the letting agents and explain the situation, going back home until you get things sorted is a good idea if you get on and theres room.
When you first went into your rented accommodation you should have paid a deposit, you could use this to pay off some of your arrears and prehaps come to an arrangement to pay off whats left.

Good luck

BigAunty

DrowningInDebt88 wrote: »

I have put in a claim for hb but it is over £200 less than my rent and it's still being processed.

Currently, there is something called 13 week protection that you should demand. This means you should get full HB for 3 months so long as you could afford the rent when you moved in and haven't claimed HB in the past year.

See the background section here

http://england.shelter.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/706261/13WeekProtectionBriefing.pdf

Also, if you put in the claim more than 2 weeks ago, ask for an interim benefit payment. More info here

http://edinburghagainstpoverty.org.uk/node/4

Councils are notorious for resisting these two processes.

DrowningInDebt88 wrote: »

Do I just ring the agents (it's a managed property) and tell them I can't pay and need to leave?

Check out your entitlement for 13 week HB protection and see when you want to serve written notice.

Shelter gives information on how to end a periodic tenancy. Technically while the period of notice may be a month, its expiry has to correspond with the rental period so there are timing considerations that can extend this to almost 2 months (bar a day) if you don't understand this.

G_M

pineapple123 wrote: »

As others have said speak to the letting agents and explain the situation....

Good luck

This is not what others have said.

Speak to the landlord.