Housing Association abusing rent

sue33

Hello

I have been at a property to over 6 years and one has one problem whereby they had overcharged me and could not explain but still charged me . I always make sure I pay my rent on time . In recent months I have requested that statements be sent to Me . Before Christmas I was advised there was non -collection weeks on the 18th and the 25th. I statement was sent to Me -which paid . Just recently I recieved a lettet to say that I owe them £100. I was astonished about this and raised a complaint which feel on deaf ears. I contacted the housing ombudsman who said they do not deal with rent disputes and I need to contact the Fier tribunal . I feel that housing associations are abusing tenants that are working . I do not earn much and constantly frustrated they can do this and get away with it. Can anyone advise . I am in the Greater Manchester area . I don't want to bother to contact the CAB simply because they will do nothing than to fig me a print out of what is on the internet

G_M

Do you know how to produce a spreadsheet? If so, create columns showing:

* date each rent payment becomes due
* amount due on that date
* date you actually made payment
* aamount of payment made
* balance (ie arrears if any)

fill in the columns going back as far as you can/as far as needed (ie earlier than when the issue arose)

this will help you understand if you actually owe rent.

Then you can send it to the landlord to show what rent you think you owe, if any, and ask the LL toconfirm that it is accurate, or to identtify any inaccuracies they believe you have made.

sue33

Hello GM

Like I said they send me a statement with a payment schedule. I had created a spreadsheet and when I challenge it with them ,they still advise I am still owing . They made a mistake before and admitted to it but I still ended up having to pay . They take advantage because housing ombudsman failed to intervene

Alter_ego

How do you pay? Cash? Cheque? Bank Transfer? Or what?

sue33

Hello Alter Ego

I pay via credit card through the Post Office . I want to know if their are any authority bodies that can look into and investigate their unscruptous handlings of honest rent payers being exploited

TBagpuss

I think you would first have to establish if, and how, you are being exploited.
How do they say the payment arose?
i.e.
Do they say that you made a payment late and incurred fees?
Has the rent increased?


It sounds as though the ombudsman has pointed you in the right direction - have you followed their advice and contacted the tribunal?

In the mean time, if you can explain exactly what it is they are charging you for, and why you think it is incorrect, we may be able to help.

I'd also suggest that you do try the CAB. While they are a not legally trained, they may well have local knowledge about whether this is a common issue with tenants of your HA, or indeed whether it is a common misunderstanding and the charge is correct, if poorly explained / unclear.

Alter_ego

sue33 wrote: »

Hello Alter Ego

I pay via credit card through the Post Office . I want to know if their are any authority bodies that can look into and investigate their unscruptous handlings of honest rent payers being exploited

Surely then your CC statements will show the amounts paid?

Comms69

sue33 wrote: »

Hello Alter Ego

I pay via credit card through the Post Office . I want to know if their are any authority bodies that can look into and investigate their unscruptous handlings of honest rent payers being exploited

no-one is being exploited

sue33

That . The questions you have asked has been addressed in my post . I have also mentioned that I feel that CAB will be a waste of time given my experience with them in that passed

They have been alter EGo and like I said I am always up to scratch with my rent

Can anyone advise a authorituve body I can contact that monitor their practises

Comms69

sue33 wrote: »

That . The questions you have asked has been addressed in my post . I have also mentioned that I feel that CAB will be a waste of time given my experience with them in that passed

They have been alter EGo and like I said I am always up to scratch with my rent

Can anyone advise a authorituve body I can contact that monitor their practises

What for?! Have you considered they've made a mistake? Why does this bother you?? No-one is taking you to court.


it's no different to me saying: "Sue33 you owe me £500!)

BorisThomson

No one can help you when your posts tell us nothing (other than your claims of abuse of working tenants). Please answer the following, minus any ramble:

* Where do they claim the arrears have arisen, which dates have you missed or made short payments?
* What evidence do you have that you made said payments, and what do the HA say in response to your evidence?