Dispute with my housing association over rent arrears

dandosam

Not sure how to delete, please consider this closed 

Comms69

Not sure what you want advice on. Your ex husband hasnt paid the rent; so they're asking you as the tenant to do so.

I have no idea how they're' holding your daughter to ransom'. 

The only person who has caused this is your ex husband. (or current seperated husband as i doubt the divorce has been that quick)

dandosam

I meant that because they won't transfer the tenancy until the arrears are paid, they just keep telling me I'll make my daughter homeless, I'll cancel this thread, sorry just wanted to see if anyone knew any avenues I hadn't tried

Comms69

dandosam said:

I meant that because they won't transfer the tenancy until the arrears are paid, they just keep telling me I'll make my daughter homeless, I'll cancel this thread, sorry just wanted to see if anyone knew any avenues I hadn't tried

But why are you blaming the HA, and not your ex husband?

He knew how much the rent was, all he had to do was put it aside ready to pay.

dandosam

I've now deleted, thank you

es5595

The issue is the ex-husband isn’t planning on paying directly, he is expecting to use benefits to pay the rent, but he can only do that, when the tenancy is in his name. 

As the housing association have not transferred the tenancy over when requested to do so, benefits cannot be claimed, and so arrears have been built up.

OP, I suggest you need to start making a paper trail, and putting in a formal complaint. Can you get a printout of your phone bill/phone calls showing the calls you made to them?
You need to make clear of the dates you asked for the transfer, and also, what is your notice period under the tenancy? I’d suggest that this is all you are liable for in arrears. 

vitaweat

dandosam said:

Not sure how to delete, please consider this closed 

On the top right of your post there should be a cog.  Click that.  Select delete from the list and follow the instructions. 

dandosam

Im making a complaint about the housing association as they didn't do what was asked. My husband is on universal credit and couldn't afford the rent without the housing benefit which he couldn't get as the tenancy wasn't in his name. But as I say, it's fine I've closed it down

Comms69

es5595 said:

The issue is the ex-husband isn’t planning on paying directly, he is expecting to use benefits to pay the rent, but he can only do that, when the tenancy is in his name. 

As the housing association have not transferred the tenancy over when requested to do so, benefits cannot be claimed, and so arrears have been built up.

OP, I suggest you need to start making a paper trail, and putting in a formal complaint. Can you get a printout of your phone bill/phone calls showing the calls you made to them?
You need to make clear of the dates you asked for the transfer, and also, what is your notice period under the tenancy? I’d suggest that this is all you are liable for in arrears. 

That's not true. And council know that. He can apply for benefits now. 

dandosam

He has got universal credit, but they are saying he can't claim the housing benefit until the tenancy is in his name. I've never claimed benefits in my life, so I've no idea on this, but it makes sens to me that you would need to provide your tenancy agreement and the amount of rent before they'll give the benefits. I don't know it's all a minefield

Comms69

dandosam said:

He has got universal credit, but they are saying he can't claim the housing benefit until the tenancy is in his name. I've never claimed benefits in my life, so I've no idea on this, but it makes sens to me that you would need to provide your tenancy agreement and the amount of rent before they'll give the benefits. I don't know it's all a minefield

Whilst yes that's often the case. There is no legal requirement for a tenancy agreement to be in writing; councils know this - in any case he was presumably on the original tenancy agreement?