Sovereign Housing Rent Debt

MinMinMoo

Hi, 

I'm wondering if anyone has any advice. I have a shared ownership through Sovereign Housing Association. I pay rent each month and have done for the last 5 years 5 months. Never late, always paid. I'm dyslexic and have ADHD and I have trouble remembering things. So it's all set up to auto pay via my bank. Today I've had a call to say that I am £550 in debt because 15 months ago when my rent increased I didn't change the amount. They are now saying I have to pay this back over 12 months. I asked why no one had brought this to my attention before now - ‘it's a new department sorting it so we are contacting you.’

So I must have a standing order not a direct debit, I get confused between the two. I thought they changed it over. 

I fully appreciate that this was an oversight of mine. But someone should have checked and contacted me before now surely. 

Is there anything I can do? What is a reasonable amount of time a landlord can let you go into debt without contacting you. Just to be clear, I have paid my rent each month, I just didn't pay enough when the price changes. 

Any thoughts? 

DE_612183

I think as you say this may be an oversight on your part - although I'd ask for a copy of the communication from 15 months ago informing you of the change.

I'd see if that gets you anywhere - if they can't provide the proof I'd sort of say you could refuse on the basis that the debt has accrued is their fault not yours.

They may be prepared to make some sort of concession because of their over-sight as well.

You can only ask - worst case scenario is ask for a longer period to pay off, and assurance that it won't affect your credit rating.

elsien

Do you check your online account? I suspect that that will show that you were in arrears.

What are you wanting to achieve here? If you’re expecting the arrears to be written off then that’s unlikely to happen because you would have had a letter/communication telling you about the increase which you didn’t action.
The housing association cannot unilaterally change your standing order to a direct debit. This is something you need to do at your end.

 I think a repayment plan over 12 months is a reasonable offer which you should accept. 

This may be a good time to check any other standing orders that you have, just to be on the safe side.

CSI_Yorkshire

MinMinMoo said:

What is a reasonable amount of time a landlord can let you go into debt without contacting you. 

Much longer than 15 months.

Debt accrued over 15 months with an offer to repay over 12 months?  I'd snap their hands off - that's immensely fair and much better than they needed to be.