Can get backdated rent?

theDon876

I've had the wrong amount of rent for a long time a few pounds out what the rent actually is. I am on UC. Can I get a backdated payment?

Caz3121

is it a private rental? if so, how does your rent amount compare to the LHA rate?
In private rentals the LHA would be applicable unless the rent is lower than that. If the rent is higher than the LHA rate then you would be funding that yourself or applying for a Discretionary Housing Payment for the difference...this tends to be a short term award to enable you to see out current lease and maybe move to somewhere cheaper.

poppy12345

If you're privately renting then check here how much you're entitled to. How many bedrooms will depend on your circumstances.

https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/

theDon876

Caz3121 said:

is it a private rental? if so, how does your rent amount compare to the LHA rate?
In private rentals the LHA would be applicable unless the rent is lower than that. If the rent is higher than the LHA rate then you would be funding that yourself or applying for a Discretionary Housing Payment for the difference...this tends to be a short term award to enable you to see out current lease and maybe move to somewhere cheaper.

It's council rental. Let's say my rent is £58 per week, I've been paying say £55 per week for quite a long time hence I always end up with rent arrears which I've paid off over the months. 

In your universal journal account your meant to update your exact rent cost now I thought I had it correct but seems not, you realise this when you get a huge bill for rent arrears. 
So would I be able to claim any of this money back?

calcotti

I thought UC would normally verify the rent with the local authority. Is it possible that the difference is a non allowable service charge?

poppy12345

calcotti said:

I thought UC would normally verify the rent with the local authority.

Yes they do, the same as housing benefit did when i was renting from social housing.

theDon876

calcotti said:

I thought UC would normally verify the rent with the local authority. Is it possible that the difference is a non allowable service charge?

So why would I keep getting rent arrears. 

poppy12345

theDon876 said:

calcotti said:

I thought UC would normally verify the rent with the local authority. Is it possible that the difference is a non allowable service charge?

So why would I keep getting rent arrears. 

Because you're not paying your full rent.

calcotti

theDon876 said:

calcotti said:

I thought UC would normally verify the rent with the local authority. Is it possible that the difference is a non allowable service charge?

So why would I keep getting rent arrears. 

As per my previous post - Is it possible that the difference is a non allowable service charge?

theDon876

calcotti said:

theDon876 said:

calcotti said:

I thought UC would normally verify the rent with the local authority. Is it possible that the difference is a non allowable service charge?

So why would I keep getting rent arrears. 

As per my previous post - Is it possible that the difference is a non allowable service charge?

It's possible, I assumed there were no service charges but that could be it. I'd need to see a breakdown on rent payments for last few months. Council still shut though. 

However If the dwp were paying the council too little would I be able to claim backdated rent from them?

tomtom256

Not easily, as you should have been checking, however they should be paying what you delcared and what the council confirmed was your rent. The process is, you declare your social housing rent and the DWP check it with the LA via a landlord portal. If it's correct your housing gets paid, if it's wrong they will send you a message stating your landlord told us your rent is xxx is this correct and then once confirmed woudl pay the correct rent.

You probably have a shortfall in your rent owing to the full amount not be covered by UC, which has then been ignored by you, what does your UC statement show for rent declared and what they are actually paying?

If there is a shortfall it should say we cannot pay you xxx as you are only entitled to xxx.