Rent problems
Are you a private tenant having problems paying your rent?
For advice on your personal circumstances please contact:
Homelessness and Housing Advice Service Helpline 01922 653 405
As a private tenant you have to pay rent to your landlord in return for living in your home.
Rent is normally paid weekly or monthly, but can be paid for other periods. The amount of rent you pay normally depends on what you agreed at the start of the tenancy.
It is important you keep records of your rent payments by getting receipts or keeping bank statements and cheque stubs, in case there is any dispute.
If you don’t pay the rent your landlord may evict you. However, even if you are having problems paying it may be possible to avoid being evicted, if you act quickly.
What are rent arrears?
Rent is the amount of money your landlord charges in return for allowing you to live in the accommodation. If you do not pay your rent you still owe your landlord the money. The money you owe is known as rent arrears. If you don’t pay the rent your landlord will have the right to evict you. In many cases though, there are things you can do to avoid losing your home.
Pay what you can
It is worth paying what you can even if your landlord tells you that you must pay the whole amount. If your landlord refuses to accept a partial payment, keep it in a separate bank account and keep offering to pay it.
Pay arrears gradually
Your landlord may agree to you paying the arrears back over a period of time rather than in one lump sum. Try to agree an amount that you can afford, with your landlord.
Prioritise your finances
You will need to work out your income and expenditures as accurately as possible. You may be able to maximise your income depending on your circumstances.
This might be by:
- Claiming benefits such as housing benefit, council tax benefit or working family tax credit.
- Asking another family member to make a financial contribution.
- Doing extra hours at work
- Reducing payments towards other debt, such as credit cards.
Debts such as rent arrears, where you risk losing your home, are much more important than debts such as catalogue payments, where you risk losing your credit rating.
The Housing Advice Team can help you negotiate reducing your arrears with your landlord. Alternatively, you can contact the Citizens Advice Bureau on 01922 700600 who run a specialist Money Advice Service.
Housing benefit entitlement
If you want to know more about whether you can claim help towards your housing costs contact the Housing Benefit Section on 01922 650000.
You don’t have to be receiving income sup[port or other benefits to get Housing benefit. People who are working may also be entitled to help with their housing costs.
Ring the team to find out more.
If you are already receiving Housing Benefit but your income has reduced or your circumstances changed in any way, give them a ring.
Discretionary housing payments
If your housing benefit does not cover your full rent you may be able to apply to the Housing Benefit Section for a “discretionary housing payment”. The Benefits Section will consider your circumstances and decide whether to make an extra payment or not. The Homelessness and Housing Advice Section can help you draft a letter in support of your application for a discretionary housing payment.
Housing benefit problems
If you have rent arrears because your housing benefit hasn’t been paid contact the Housing Benefit Section on 01922 650000 to find out what is happening to your claim.
If you have provided all the information you have been asked for you can request a payment on account 14 days after you put in your claim. You should request this in writing and keep a copy of the letter.
What happens if I don’t pay?
If you fail to pay your rent, your landlord could make an arrangement with you to pay off your arrears. Housing advice officers might be able to help with negotiations with your landlord.
But remember your landlord can and may take legal action to evict you.
Your landlord has to follow a specific legal procedure to evict you and this varies depending on the type of tenancy you have. Housing advice officers can offer advice on this aspect
Assured shorthold and assured tenants
Most private tenancies are assured or assured shorthold. If you owe more than eight weeks rent arrears your landlord can serve a notice and apply to the court for a possession order and a money judgement order for the debt outstanding.
If you have been served with a notice to leave by your landlord, contact the Housing Advice Team on 01922 653 405.
If you share your home with your landlord
Your landlord will only have to give you reasonable notice before you will be required to leave. The notice does not not necessarily have to be in writing or for a specific period of time.
Again if you have been asked to leave under these circumstances, contact the Housing Advice team on 01922 653 405
Legal advice
This may be available free if you qualify for legal aid. A list of solicitors should be available from your local Citizens Advice Bureau on 01922 700600.
Fair Rents
The Rent Act 1977 sets out the rules for setting Fair Rents and the Rents Act (Maximum Fair Rent) Order 1999 limited the amount of rent that can be charged.
The Rent Service gives advice to both tenants and landlords, various guidance leaflets can be found on their website, along with details on how to apply for a fair rent inspection.