Being Evicted, Court Costs

HappyMJ

Don't forget you do not have to leave on the 29th September. Stay as long as you can.

Not sure what cuts you're referring to. I thought it was the LL wanting the property back just to sell it and your postings seem to suggest you pay your rent in full in each month so you weren't in arrears.

[Deleted User]

The cuts that have caused the lack of services etc. Rent is paid in full as you say. But cuts even affect that, LHA is £100 lower pcm than what I'm paying now even though my rent is still bottom of the range for the area. Tax credits now down by £110 a week etc.

HappyMJ

deannatrois wrote: »

The cuts that have caused the lack of services etc. Rent is paid in full as you say. But cuts even affect that, LHA is £100 lower pcm than what I'm paying now even though my rent is still bottom of the range for the area. Tax credits now down by £110 a week etc.

Not sure how NHS services have been cut when that part of the budget was protected from cuts.

How about applying for a discretionary housing payment? Council's have a budget for that and many haven't spent it as claimants haven't claimed it. Even though you pay your rent in full you can show that you need your other income for other essential expenses and the property you live in is the most appropriate and the cheapest in the area. It might not help for this property as you are leaving soon but try that for your next property if the HB pays LHA rates and your rent is higher.

Didn't think tax credits were cut at all. They were frozen but not cut.

How is the search for another private rental property going? Have you found agencies turn you away without considering your circumstances or have you found it's the LL's that refuse to have a tenant on HB?

Lord_Baltimore

Thanks for the update. Platitudes would be patronising. It's plain to us all that your circumstances would test anyone.

My only (rather lame) suggestion is to concentrate your efforts on the people at the Council who are paid to help: this will not be the Housing people who are bound by rules. You need to get your extenuating circumstances through to someone who can do something other than say "I'm sorry rules are rules".

In fact write a letter that covers all your circumstances and send it to everyone: your MP, your Council, your GP, your landlord. You have to make your problems somebody else's problem too.

Needless to say, try to look after yourself. I try always to take the view that the bad times will be a test but they will never beat me.

[Deleted User]

Dear MJ.., I'm not going to argue. I'm just giving up. Hope you never need help and find the same things I have.

[Deleted User]

Dear Lord Baltimore..,thank you. If you could see the letter I've just received c/o the assistant director of housing via the MP. Apparently I prefer to not rent out of borough. Completely one sided.., no mention of why.

I can't handle all the paperwork anymore. I have spent two days sending out emails/letters with copies of evidence.., and I'm supposed to be looking after my sons, forget packing etc lol. Doubt these people even read the things.

HappyMJ

deannatrois wrote: »

Dear MJ.., I'm not going to argue. I'm just giving up. Hope you never need help and find the same things I have.

Sorry I was coming from my point of view in that I've lived on a very low income for years (I don't pay income tax as it's that low) and not seen the cuts to the level you describe to local services. Maybe your area is different.

Have you been looking for housing? You can't just not look and expect the council to rehouse you. You have to show to the council you've done everything possible to find new accommodation for them to help including staying in your current property as long as possible by waiting until the bailiffs are evicting you but this then becomes extremely stressful. They should help before you are evicted by giving you assistance to get another private rental by helping by paying your rental deposit for you and asking you to pay them back in 12 monthly instalments. My local council outsources this function to a credit union called Money Spider then guarantees to the credit union that they will not lose money. If your council does the same you'll need to open an account with your local credit union you've still got plenty of time to open one and transfer your benefits.

My question is...have you found agencies have been turning you away without considering your full circumstances and have you found landlords in your area do not want consider you as a tenant as you are on housing benefits? The council will want to know what you've done. What I would do is create and print out a SOA and take it to landlords directly to prove you know how to budget, can pay the rent requested and still have surplus income.

silvercar

In my area the council offers bonds to landlords for private tenants on low incomes/ benefits/ needing rehousing. So the council provides a bond to the landlord and the tenant doesn't need to find a deposit. You do need to find a landlord prepared to accept the bond as not all do, but it avoids the need to find deposit money.

[Deleted User]

<sigh> More tenants here than properties - not a single agency in the area will let a benefit recipient through the door, they don't have to, LL's prefer working tenants, rents are £200 more than LHA. Discretionary housing payments, if I get one, is supposed to be a temporary arrangement.., six month maximum so its only delaying yet another move. You get a loan from Housing you have to pay it back (not surprisingly) my last one was £60 a month (paid off). I just couldn't afford that now. My money has gone down drastically, my rent has gone up (even here) and I already had less money because of changes to council tax etc. I was already struggling (but never fell short on the rent).

[Deleted User]

Its ok, this is getting me more stressed, appreciate your advice. Unfortunately there is just nothing that can be done.