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Rent arrears?????
I am in full time emloyment and as most do nowadays struggle to make ends meet, every now and then slipping into rent arrears (maybe 1 week at a time but always catching up at the end of the month). It only takes us to miss 1 week (forgot to mention it is a council property) and they are on the phone or sending letters etc. one particular person at the local offices (whos job it obviously is to chase up rent arrears) is always very unpleasant and threatens us with court action every time we slip into arrears. She once called round at the house because we where �1.32 yes �1.32 in arrears. This time she has taken the court action seriously and a court date has come through this time with a possesion order, my arrears are currently �14 yes �14. Im begining to think this woman is taking her job too seriously and is going to extreme measures for petty amounts causing unessesary stress on me and my wife. We are begining to feel victimsed by this woman. I felt like contacting the local radio station or newspaper about the 1.32 incident. What i need to know is should i complain about this woman, and apart from paying the �14 arrears what can i do to stop the court date.? What winds me up more than anything is she is also an advisor for rent and council tax benefits and when i explained my financial situation to her (one income near minimum wage) she said we would not be eligable for benefits. If i was unemployed i would get my rent and council tax payed and would not have this problem. Help advice needed.
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I hope you are able to get paper records of your payments, that show the amount of arrears and when the payments were made.
Also, copies of all letters from the Council, and a diary of contact - phone calls and visits.
Try and get an accurate record as possible. Where you are approximating dates, make this clear.
Photocopy all of this.
Pay the �14, and try to make sure your rent is paid on time between now and the court date at least.
Now you are prepared for court.
In the meantime - find out who is in charge of council rents. Not just at your local office, but at the central office. Make an appointment to see him/her. You may have to insist. You are going to make a formal complaint against the housing official who has been dealing with you. Take all the paperwork with you (photocopies). State your case calmly and factually and ask for a written reply and summary of the meeting.
Before the meeting, consider talking to your local councillor (elections coming up!) and your MP. And as you say, the local paper may be interested.
Also, copies of all letters from the Council, and a diary of contact - phone calls and visits.
Try and get an accurate record as possible. Where you are approximating dates, make this clear.
Photocopy all of this.
Pay the �14, and try to make sure your rent is paid on time between now and the court date at least.
Now you are prepared for court.
In the meantime - find out who is in charge of council rents. Not just at your local office, but at the central office. Make an appointment to see him/her. You may have to insist. You are going to make a formal complaint against the housing official who has been dealing with you. Take all the paperwork with you (photocopies). State your case calmly and factually and ask for a written reply and summary of the meeting.
Before the meeting, consider talking to your local councillor (elections coming up!) and your MP. And as you say, the local paper may be interested.
I'm not surprised that they have taken you to court.
My elderly mom lives in a council property and th local council have threatened her with court twice even though she gets pension credit and doesn't have to pay any (the council housing benefits confirmed this in writing)
Now they have stopped the threats but still keeep sending arrears notices despite me writing to them twice and visiting them twice also- Bumbling buffoons.
Anyway best of luck with your case and make sure you claim housing and council tax benefit even if SHE says you are entitled.They can only say no -council officials often get it wrong.
My elderly mom lives in a council property and th local council have threatened her with court twice even though she gets pension credit and doesn't have to pay any (the council housing benefits confirmed this in writing)
Now they have stopped the threats but still keeep sending arrears notices despite me writing to them twice and visiting them twice also- Bumbling buffoons.
Anyway best of luck with your case and make sure you claim housing and council tax benefit even if SHE says you are entitled.They can only say no -council officials often get it wrong.
As the court date is so close, I think you should not pay the �14.
Do as much preparation as already discussed.
Tell the court that it was never your intention to permanently deprive the council of its �14, that you have always tried to ensure the rent is paid and time, and where you have fell into arrears you have paid in full as soon as possible.
Also, make a record of all your income - include every penny you get . Show as a monthly total, after taxes and so on.
Do the same for your outgoings - include rent, council tax, gas, electric, water rates, phone, tv licence, car tax, car insurance, house insurance. Everything that has to be paid that is essential. Divide yearly bills by 12 and show how much all of this is each month.
Finally, make a list of all other monthly outgoings - loans, hp, that sort of thing.
Now you will be able to clearly show the court how much spare cash you have for food, clothing and other living expenses.
I think you will be able to make the council look quite foolish.
And afterwards make your formal complaints.
Do as much preparation as already discussed.
Tell the court that it was never your intention to permanently deprive the council of its �14, that you have always tried to ensure the rent is paid and time, and where you have fell into arrears you have paid in full as soon as possible.
Also, make a record of all your income - include every penny you get . Show as a monthly total, after taxes and so on.
Do the same for your outgoings - include rent, council tax, gas, electric, water rates, phone, tv licence, car tax, car insurance, house insurance. Everything that has to be paid that is essential. Divide yearly bills by 12 and show how much all of this is each month.
Finally, make a list of all other monthly outgoings - loans, hp, that sort of thing.
Now you will be able to clearly show the court how much spare cash you have for food, clothing and other living expenses.
I think you will be able to make the council look quite foolish.
And afterwards make your formal complaints.
Definitely pay the �14 before the Court date and get a receipt for it. When you go to make the payment ask for confirmation that your rent is now up to date with no arrears - get a print out from them of your rent account showing this. If in fact you owe more than �14 pay it up to date. You need to be able to prove in Court that there are no arrears at the date of the hearing. It is unlikely the Court date will be stopped at such short notice so go to Court with all the info Ethel suggests and the receipt for the payment and the print out of your account.
Do pursue the complaint with the dept. and your councillor, but you must try to ensure your rent payments are made regularly and on time in future - they are one of your top priority payments.
Insist on claiming housing and council tax benefit - they cannot refuse you a claim form and have to process it and make a decision on it. Get help from your local CAB if necessary.
Do pursue the complaint with the dept. and your councillor, but you must try to ensure your rent payments are made regularly and on time in future - they are one of your top priority payments.
Insist on claiming housing and council tax benefit - they cannot refuse you a claim form and have to process it and make a decision on it. Get help from your local CAB if necessary.
You must pay up, your rent arrears
this is absolutely vital
I pres ume the May 1st hearing is to apply for a possession order. You have to turn up to that, because undefended, they may plead you are still in arrears
The hearing may be informal
Do you have a short hold assured tenancy ?
Are they asking for possession on account of arrears or something else ?
If it is for arrears,
you should say clearly - I am not in arrears, I therefore oppose the granting of the order.
(you can see why it is important to pay, and clearly you cant say that if you ARE in arrears)
and good luck
this is absolutely vital
I pres ume the May 1st hearing is to apply for a possession order. You have to turn up to that, because undefended, they may plead you are still in arrears
The hearing may be informal
Do you have a short hold assured tenancy ?
Are they asking for possession on account of arrears or something else ?
If it is for arrears,
you should say clearly - I am not in arrears, I therefore oppose the granting of the order.
(you can see why it is important to pay, and clearly you cant say that if you ARE in arrears)
and good luck
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