How do I help my sister?

c00kie87

Hi guys,

Just a quick question. my sister was evicted from emergency housing when the council decided she'd made herself purposely homeless (she'd left an abusive, alcoholic partner) and had no responsibility to rehome her and her two kids. During the time she was there she lost her job due to health issues, and is now waiting for spinal fusion surgery and unable to walk more than a few paces. She applied for Housing Benefit but the council lost the forms the first time and so there was a couple of months where she was unable to pay rent, giving her rent arrears. Now that she has been evicted is now crashing on her friends sofa, the council wont help until she has paid off her debt to them. There is a bunch more to this story but this is the jist of it. Lets say she's had a really rough few years. She's asked me for help and since I am lucky enough to have enough money to pay off the arrears I will gladly help her.

She;s been looking at private rent but being on HB and ESA with no guarantor or money for deposit she's pretty much up the creek on that front. (I dont own my own home so no guarantor from me).

So my question is, how do I pay off her rent arrears? I know I could send her the money, however, as much as I love my sister, she is rubbish with money and I have been burned in the past. I would rather be able to pay it directly to the council to avoid any... problems. Is there any way I can do this directly?

elsien

I would suggest getting a letter from your sister giving you her permission to talk to them on her behalf. Then contact the council directly to see what they say. Or speak to them together with your sister, if you are close enough to be able to do that.
Your sister might also want to speak to Shelter if she hasn't already done so to see if the council have followed the correct procedures or if there's any room for a challenge given her individual circumstances.

National_Debtline

Hi

I agree with elsien that taking advice from Shelter is a good idea. They specialise in housing/rent advice.

www.shelter.org.uk

If the council lost your sister’s housing benefit application there may have been some negligence which led to your sister’s eviction. A complaint to the council, and then Housing Ombudsman might be in order. You could also get your local MP involved.

If you sister is eligible for housing benefit she can apply to the council for a Discretionary Housing Payment. As the name suggests it’s up to the council whether they give your sister any extra money for housing costs, but it could potentially be used for a rent deposit or to clear the arrears.

She could also check whether she’s entitled to any extra financial help from a charity grant or trust fund through Turn2us on www.turn2us.org.uk/grants_search.aspx

James
@natdebtline

c00kie87

Thank you Elsien.

We arent close enough to speak together (other ends of the country) but I shall see about that letter. Otherwise I found out perhaps I could pay it online for her through the council website which would be way easier and much more reassuring for me that the money was going where its meant to!

She does have a solicitor who has been handling the council but they havent managed to get anywhere.

I've been helping her to apply for PIP as well since she's going to be out of commission for at least another year, especially now she has no fixed accommodation the hospital is not keen on doing the surgery with no where to go afterwards. Also getting her to see CAB if they can help with anything but the biggest priority is accomodation since the sofa is certainly not helping her health and her friend has 4 kids too! Hopefully once the rent arrears are paid she will be able to get back on the council list for somewhere.

tlc678910

Hi, I would take advice from CAB or shelter before you pay the arrears. Your sisters housing sounds totally unsustainable. Perhaps you would be better to pay a deposit and first months rent of a private rental if you can and your sister pay the arrears gradually?

determined_new_ms

she can apply for floating support and have someone help her with this. If you google it you should get the details of how to apply. I live in Kent and our local council has a service called Live it Well (it's what I do) and people who apply can get a housing support worker for up to 12 weeks to help people who are in housing difficulties.

In terms of the HB if she has the receipt they would have given her when she applied for HB then she can get it back dated - it's not uncommon they lose applications... My best advice for her is to just start looking for private rented. It is harder to get a place if on benefits and no guarantor but not impossible and often landlords will want a long term renter. She can apply for discretionary housing benefit for either a rent deposit or rent in advance and they will make a quick decision (within 48 hours) so she doesn't lose a property. She needs to find out what the local housing allowance rates are in your area (the maximum HB is prepared to pay for her circumstances) and look for a property that is as near to her allowance as is possible.

Once her rent arrears are cleared then she will be able to register on the housing register and be bidding for council properties, but this can take years to get housed

datlex

Hi OP, I noticed you said you are not close physically. What is stopping you visiting though? I live at the opposite end of country to family too but I visit them at times. I appreciate you won't actually be able to stay with her at this time. It might be worth you having a visit to see her during the week when council offices are open so you can attend with her.

fabforty

I appreciate that you want to help your sister, but before handing over money for her arrears, please make sure that you have the full facts otherwise you might just be throwing good money after bad. Some of what she has told you doesn't ring true I'm afraid.

All LA's have their own rules regarding homelessness but I find it hard to believe that a mother fleeing domestic abuse would be told that she had made herself intentionally homeless and turned away. Also two months of rent arrears would also not immediately lead to eviction - notice would have to be served first - usually once there are 8 weeks of arrears and then court action which all takes time (for Council properties it takes even longer).

Without knowing the full facts about why she has been evicted and why the council refuse to help her (especially as she has children), it might be very hard for you to help her.