Problem with advance rent for housing association property

UN17ED

I received the offer letter last Saturday and the landlord wants 4 weeks advance rent which is approx £530.

I started ringing places on monday to try get help as the landlord wanted the advance rent on this Thursday just gone before I could sign the tenancy.

I have kept them up to speed on what I have been doing to try raise this including getting a discretionary housing payment. To make things worse I have had my mobility scooter taken off me so now have no way of getting around to hand forms in or go see people who maybe able to help.

I rang landlord and advised them of this and I offered to pay them my next DLA payment which is due next Tuesday to show I am serious but they told me if I don't come up with the total amount by Tuesday then I will lose the property.

Is there anything I can do because I really cannot lose this property.

outofmoney

Can you not write a cheque? Give it to them now and by the time it goes through your money will be in.

UN17ED

outofmoney wrote: »

Can you not write a cheque? Give it to them now and by the time it goes through your money will be in.

I don't have a chequebook and my dla will still leave me approx £170 short.

dc197

Use your credit card at a cash machine. The interest is high so be careful, but it is one way to give yourself and advance on cash.
Only do this if you expect to receive funds in the future that will allow you to settle this debt, its interest, and future expenses.

UN17ED

dc197 wrote: »

Use your credit card at a cash machine. The interest is high so be careful, but it is one way to give yourself and advance on cash.
Only do this if you expect to receive funds in the future that will allow you to settle this debt, its interest, and future expenses.

Again unfortunately I don't have a credit card.
I just know that I am going to lose the flat which will have knock on effects, I don't understand why the HA want the rent so quickly and don't seem to want to help by taking what I've offered.

theartfullodger

The HA can set such terms as they wish (as long as otherwise legal): Rent in advance is clearly always more attractive to a landlord, be they private, council, HA or some other variety.

Sorry, but you are in a difficult position & unless you can raise/borrow whatever the money....

Good luck.

LittleMax

dc197 wrote: »

Use your credit card at a cash machine. The interest is high so be careful, but it is one way to give yourself and advance on cash.
Only do this if you expect to receive funds in the future that will allow you to settle this debt, its interest, and future expenses.

Most housing associations will accept credit card payments - so if you are going to use credit card pay the rent with it don't withdraw cash. There is sometimes a fee to pay by card but it shouldn't be as much as a cash advance. I know you have said you don't have a credit card - but think it is important to point this out for others who may read this in a similar position.

LittleMax

UN17ED wrote: »

I don't understand why the HA want the rent so quickly and don't seem to want to help by taking what I've offered.

Because your rent will be due in advance not in arrears - so they need you start on a clean slate and as you mean to go on. If they wait until after you have moved in they are condoning you going into arrears. They would argue that if you are not able to pay the rent now you are not able to afford the tenancy.

What is your current housing arrangement - are you in another rented property with a deposit to come back?

You will also need to be very careful that you avoid any overlap if moving from another rented property - there are very strict rules about where housing benefit is payable on two properties, and will only be paid where the overlap was completely unavoidable. This could leave you owing even more.

UN17ED

LittleMax wrote: »

Because your rent will be due in advance not in arrears - so they need you start on a clean slate and as you mean to go on. If they wait until after you have moved in they are condoning you going into arrears. They would argue that if you are not able to pay the rent now you are not able to afford the tenancy.

What is your current housing arrangement - are you in another rented property with a deposit to come back?

You will also need to be very careful that you avoid any overlap if moving from another rented property - there are very strict rules about where housing benefit is payable on two properties, and will only be paid where the overlap was completely unavoidable. This could leave you owing even more.

I am in temporary accommodation as been waiting to move in. My rent will be covered by housing benefit and the housing association expecting a person who cannot work to come up with the amount they want in what was 3 days and now extended to 7 days is unreasonable.

Marktheshark

Ask who you appeal this unreasonable condition to.
A housing association has to have elected panel members to qualify for charitable status and they have to have an appeals process.

moneyistooshorttomention

I do genuinely sympathise - but it's best for you to start from the viewpoint that the HA will struggle to visualise how someone can be in a position to:
- not have a few hundred £s available
AND
- not have a chequebook
AND
- not have a credit card

and I confess that I would be wondering how that situation had come about if I were in the HA's position.

Because I am puzzled personally at how you are in this situation - then can you see why the HA might be puzzled as well?? Maybe if you can explain to them how this situation has come to be then - maybe/just maybe - there might be some leeway for them...