Need help with rent arrears letter

amber_lights

Looking for some advice. Received a letter from solicitor demanding payment for rent arreras from a previous property (my own fault I know)
At the time I was approx £200 in rent arrears I received my eviction notice. Went to local HA but there waa nothing they could do apart from put me down as homeless (rent arrears wasn't noted in reason for eviction)
The debt is just over £1k. I had to find somewhere for my family and I to live by xmas last year so I didn't pay rent as needed a deposit and LL wasn't willing to let me pay it up.
I was a tenant for over 7 years and always paid on time. I haven't got £1k - single mum, working part time.
I am terrified I will be taken to small claims court. I could probably afford between £30-50 per month. I'm in Scotland and it was a short aasured tenancy. The company was sold and changed it's name but I never had to sign a new lease once my old one ran out. My deposit on the property was put into a deposit scheme but I never signed any paperwork dor this either.
The solicitors letter is demanding payment within 7 days or I'll be taken to court and have to incur their costs which is more than the amount owed and they say my credit rating will also be affected if it goes to court. Can anyone help or give advice what I need/should do now?

Thanks

sourcrates

Hi,
Treat it like any other unsecured debt, write back to them, advising them it's a non priority debt, but you are willing to pay x amount a month to them, whatever you can comfortably afford.

Include a copy of your income/expenditure, so they can see your willing to play ball.
Advise them you are aware a court would not make you pay more than you could afford, and that your offer is a fair one.
See how they respond to that.

amber_lights

Hi thanks for the reply.


Are there any examples of what kind of letter I can send to them? I have other debts - one personal loan and a couple of credit cards. Left with approx. £15.00 per month after everything is paid.
Can a court make you bankrupt if you have no money to pay off the arrears?
Do I provide them bank statements or just an income/expenditure sheet? I am scared to be taken to court and possibly face bankruptcy.

sourcrates

Look on National Debtlines website, they have template letters for all different scenarios :

https://www.nationaldebtline.org

No they won't make you Bankrupt, it's a last resort, and very unlikely in this case, just include your income/ expenditure, no need for bank statements.
You don't actually appear in court in person, it's all done by post, you would have to offer something, even if it's just £1 a month.