help!! they are trying to evict my grandma!

AS913

hello friendly helpers of moneysavingexpert forum, we could really use some help right now.

My grandma, is in the process of being evicted, due to the council missing payments to her landlord Genesis housing. this has been going on for 2 years. we managed to get it fixed once. and they paid the missing money. but this time it has turned into a £900 debt!!

everytime i ring the council, they say it has been paid. i ring genesis housing and they say they haven't recieved the payments.

Last time this happend they were paying the money into some one elses rent account!!

and when i called the council and told them this. they told me it was impossible.

i think there is some corrupt individual at the council who is siphoning old ladies money into another rent account, as she never had problems untill 2 years ago. and she has lived in this property without any involvement with the council for the past 10 years!!

does anyone have any idea how i can resolve this issue. it makes me upset to see my grandma getting eviction notices and threats from genesis housing over something she has no control of!:(:(:(

Robin9

Contact your local councillor.

Murphybear

Contact your MP as well. Make sure she stays put. Only the courts can evict in England. If the rent has been paid then the courts will take a very dim view on trying to evict someone of her age who has paid the rent. Worth getting an article in the paper as well? Newspapers also hate landlords who are in the wrong.

How does she pay the rent, is it through her bank account? You could send a copy of this to the housing association.

I wish you good luck, hopefully this should be resolved.

unforeseen

Are you sure that the council are paying it or, as is normal, the HB is payed to the tenant who then pays the landlord.

AS913

hi people, thank you for answering. the council pay her housing benefit directly to genesis housing.

genesis sent us a rent payment receipt and there are some months missing, like in march and july.

they are threatening to take her to court, on the 21st of august, but she is crippled and cannot walk. she pretty much lives in her wheelchair. i just cant imagine her being homeless!

ampersand

Your grandma's ward councillor and M.P. are the people to urgently approach on this.
Make sure you are contacting HER local Councillor, not yours, HER M.P., not yours.
#
You must also go in person to the Council Housing office - yes, again - and steadily insist on them speaking with Genesis in your presence, then agreeing a bullet points list of matters agreed and corrected,

re: 'in the process of being evicted,' - this is not right, unless you have seen Court Papers and all official papers preceding this actual step.

There may be letters containing threats, following more historic computer mess- ups.

Local CABs are overwhelmed with similar cases. which may mean you have to wait for an in-depth appointment, but I advise this urgently, too. Your grandma can sign a letter which means the CAB will act for her in any dispute with the local authority and housing association.
#
So, Ward Councillor, then M.P. and CAB are your, and her. 3 URGENT steps for Monday.
#
re: 'i think there is some corrupt individual at the council who is siphoning old ladies money into another rent account,'
DO NOT SAY OR IMPLY THIS.
Your heart is in the right place, but you need officials onside.

theartfullodger

You'd be better off in this forum
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=16
- it's the eviction that is key priority, then the HB.

Get a written statement from council for HB payments ('phone calls ain't evidence) and write (yes, WRITE! - keep copy) from gran to Genesis using their complaints procedure.
http://www.genesisha.org.uk/genesis_housing_association/contact_us/compliments_and_complaints.aspx

Also get a written (yes, WRITTEN or probably computer-generated) "Rent statement" from Genesis.

If there is a local Citizens advice go see them or 'phone Shelter, 0808 800 4444 - open 8-8 Monday-to-Friday & 9-5 all other days (including Xmas day..)

Have you seen any eviction letters or, more urgent, court papers, please?

Hope it gets sorted.

ampersand

Quick reply AS913, seeing #5 from you -

An essentially wheelchair-bound grandma will NOT be evicted, be assured, especially when she is the pawn in this nonsense.

Do not brood the weekend away, either you or her.

poppy12345

unforeseen wrote: »

Are you sure that the council are paying it or, as is normal, the HB is payed to the tenant who then pays the landlord.

This isn't correct sorry. Some councils will pay the landlord direct. My council pay my landlord (agency) direct where i live now. They also paid my housing association in my last house and no i wasn't and am not currently behind with any rent. It was what both landlords chose.

unforeseen

poppy12345 wrote: »

This isn't correct sorry. Some councils will pay the landlord direct. My council pay my landlord (agency) direct where i live now. They also paid my housing association in my last house and no i wasn't and am not currently behind with any rent. It was what both landlords chose.

Nothing wrong with my statement. IT IS normal that the HB is paid to the tenant although if it council housing (not private or HA) it will be direct to your rent account, however it can be varied such that it goes to the LL.

That is why I said normal and not always.

dippy3103

AS913 wrote: »

hello friendly helpers of moneysavingexpert forum, we could really use some help right now.

My grandma, is in the process of being evicted, due to the council missing payments to her landlord Genesis housing. this has been going on for 2 years. we managed to get it fixed once. and they paid the missing money. but this time it has turned into a £900 debt!!

everytime i ring the council, they say it has been paid. i ring genesis housing and they say they haven't recieved the payments.

Last time this happend they were paying the money into some one elses rent account!!

and when i called the council and told them this. they told me it was impossible.

i think there is some corrupt individual at the council who is siphoning old ladies money into another rent account, as she never had problems untill 2 years ago. and she has lived in this property without any involvement with the council for the past 10 years!!

does anyone have any idea how i can resolve this issue. it makes me upset to see my grandma getting eviction notices and threats from genesis housing over something she has no control of!:(:(:(

Why is your Grandma not getting full HB? What's her income? Is she repaying an overpayment or something?

Ask for a rent statement from the landlord s and then take it to CAB, with her latest HB award letter. I doubt corruption is the reason