posted yesterday but no reply, please help!

Carlabo

I'm pancing about filling out my SOA form and was hoping i could get some advice.

At the moment I am paying an inclusive rent to a family member whos property I am living in ALONE (I get housing benefit but I do have a full contract/tenancy agreement with this relative - as well as monthly outgoings to their bank account to prove I am paying a proper rent- Just making that clear as I have heard receiving housing benefit when you rent from a relative can cause problems but in my case everything is provable) It is an inclusive rent that I pay but housing benefit only covers the actual rent portion. My "rent" is £300 a month but I get £240 paid by housing benefit - the extra £60 I pay is to cover my utilities but none of them are in my name. I do not pay council tax because of getting housing benefit.

When I am filling out my SOA should I just put £300 as my rent and put £0 for utilities? - or should I put my rent as £240 and and then divide out the £60 between gas/water/etc - Obviously I dont have any bills in my name to prove this though and it would all be estimates!?

I'm inclined to put my rent down as £300 but will there be question over who's paying the utilities!? I really don't understand how deep the OR digs with these things or will they just be looking at the totals and working out how things balance in terms of possible repayments??

Also there are things on the SOA - like haircuts for example that I do not pay at the moment because I cant afford them. Im confused what I should put for these things because I would be able to pay for them IF i didnt have the credit card debt hanging over me. Shoud I be writing this SOA with my current spending in mind or what I hope I can afford as soon as my debts are lifted off my shoulders?

Thanks in advance for any help and advice. Having made the massive decision to go bankrupt I am now panicing over the finer details and any help is really really appreciated. I've got other concerns at the moment and I'm new to these boards - seems I start a new thread for a new topic??

Thanks again!

silvercar

Put your rent as £300 and your utilities as 0, as that is what you pay.

I would include haircuts etc as that is what you are allowed to spend and could do so once bankrupt.

I would keep going with SoA questions on this thread.

woodformoretrees

Definitely put what you spend, you will be given a chance to go through it all. Don't panic. Nobody really has a life that's straightforward enough to fit in to a form.
Also, yes, definitely claim for things that you've not been able to do for a while now like haircuts, clothes etc. Don't see yourself short in your SOA. It's your new start xx You won't be asked to prove that you spend £10 a month on haircuts, it's just a given that a human being should rightfully expect to pay for these things.

Noodles78

An SOA is a "Statement of Your Affairs". (Your Income & your Expenditure).

If your rent is £300 then that's what you put down. If your Rent is £240 & utilities £60 then you put that, however if your utlilities are in another persons name because they are paying for these then no you can't account for them in your SOA as its not your expense, Its theirs. If this person is paying for your utilities & you are then paying them (For whatever reason) you can put this down on your SOA but you'll probably need to explain why & show proof of doing this.

If you have decided that you are going Bankrupt then you shouldn't be paying your creditors anymore & won't be once declared so leaving you with money to have for haircuts, Holidays etc etc.


Best thing to do is pop your SOA up on here & people will gladly help you out & point you in the right direction.


Hope this helps.

PippaGirl_2

You should put £240 down as your rent, and £60 down as utilities. Your LL can confirm if necessary receipt of the £60 for utilities later.

Reason being is the OR often contact the LA to confirm HB levels and will wonder why that doesn't correlate to your stated rent, so best be honest and upfront from the start with the explanations as necessary. It won't be a problem.

Carlabo

I'm still confused.

My rent is £300 but that includes utilities - HB covers £240 of this £300, the other £60 I pay.......

woodformoretrees

But why would it be a problem to put that on the form?

dojoman

Carlabo wrote: »

I'm still confused.

My rent is £300 but that includes utilities - HB covers £240 of this £300, the other £60 I pay.......

Why are you still confused? just do as others have suggested and put the amount down as rent.

Noodles78

Noodles78 wrote: »

An SOA is a "Statement of Your Affairs". (Your Income & your Expenditure).

I need to correct myself on the above. On reading your post I assumed you are single therefore based my answer on this. If you are, then my statement stands.
If you have a partner who you live with then their income shall be taken into account as well & this will need adding to your SOA. Basically your personnel circumstances dictate your SOA.
As I've said before. Stick your SOA up on here then we will be able to help you more. Without one we are limited.

Remember this board is for help, not judgement.

Carlabo

hi, no thank you, I do appreciate the help and advice. I think I'm just getting in a panic over small things and imagining its going to cause problems that I am putting £0 down for utilities - as surely this doesn't look realistic.

As long as I get a chance to explain that my utilities are included in my rent then I'm sure it'll be ok.

I just wasn't decided if I should try and make it clearer by putting down exactly how much my rent is (which is the £240 covered by HB) and then give an estimate of bills (so split the £60 between utilities) even though the way I pay it is £300 direct to my landlord

Sorry I'm not even sure that makes sense, but thanks again for the input, I'm going to put £300 down as rent and just make it clear thats inclusive.

woodformoretrees

I think that's completely the right thing to do xx