Citizens Advice

Advice

Dealing With Rent Arrears

We know that people will be fi nding things diffi cult when it comes to paying bills. Citi zens Advice South Lincolnshire are seeing more and more enquiries about rent arrears. This refl ects a growing concern that we are heading towards a rent arrears crisis.

Figures show that, nationally, Citizens Advice are helping people with a with a private renter sector issue every two seconds – an increase of a third compared to last year.

If you are struggling to pay your rent or getting behind with any of your bills, please get in touch with us as soon as you can – we may be able to help you and put your mind at ease. Here are some quick tips for you if you are having diffi culty.

Rent arrears are priority debts. ‘Priority debts’ are debts that can cause you particularly serious problems if you don’t do anything about them. Rent arrears are priority debts because they may lead to eviction from the property you live in. There are some steps that you can take to help if you fall into rent arrears.

Check liability

You might not be responsible for paying back all of the rent arrears. It’s important to check before you pay your landlord any money. This depends on what type of tenancy agreement you have, if you have taken over a tenancy, sometimes known as ‘assignment’ or ‘succession’ or if you don’t have a tenancy agreement.

Check the amount owed

Make sure the amount your landlord says you owe matches your own records. Have a look at your: • bank statements • receipts (if you pay your rent in cash) • rent book or rent card (if you have one)

Your landlord must give you a rent book or other record of your rent payments if you have a weekly tenancy. Check you’ve kept a record of all your rent payments, and that they add up correctly.

You should ask your landlord for a statement of how much rent you’ve paid if you: • haven’t kept a note of your rent payments. • think your rent book or rent card isn’t clear • can’t fi nd your rent book or rent card Check if you can get benefits

You might be able to claim help to top up your income. If you can get benefi ts but you haven’t been claiming them, you might be able to get your claim backdated. This means you’ll get more money to pay towards your arrears. If you’re already getting benefi ts. If you get Universal Credit or other benefi ts, you can ask for part of these payments to be paid towards your rent arrears.

Paying arrears using your benefi ts means you won’t have to worry about making extra payments to your landlord yourself. It also means your landlord will get all the money you owe them - though it can take a long time, as you’ll usually only repay small amounts. Tell the DWP that you want to use your benefi ts to pay your arrears. You’ll fi nd the number for the DWP at the top of your benefi ts letter. If you get any benefi ts paid directly to your landlord, check with your local council or Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to fi nd out how much your landlord has been paid. Contact our money advice team, using the email address below, for help and further guidance around this option.

Further Information

More details around the topics raised in this article For further information on this matter, or anything related to it you can call Adviceline on 0800 144 8848, or use either the Citizens Advice email or webchat services. Further information is available at www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ debt-and-money/rent-arrears/

Get Help from Citizens Advice South Lincolnshire

CASL can also help. Our Money advice team can be contacted via email at: moneyadvice2@ citi zensadvicesouthlincs.org.uk.

The team are able to help with a range of issues including helping you check if there is extra support available, negotiating with creditors and helping you sort which debts are priority and non-priority. The team can also provide support on budgeting and setting up repayment plans, if needed. This may help make a difference to you at a particularly diffi cult time of the year.

Talk to Us

Citizens Advice give free, confi dential, impartial and independent advice to help you solve your problems

Citizens Advice South Lincolnshire is open at :

Council Offi ces, Priory Road, Spalding, PE11 2XE Monday-Thursday: 10am - 3pm Friday: 10am - 3pm* (*Training and Development Day. Training and Develpment Days allow clients in crisis to obtain emergency support, provided they are willing to assist Citizens Advice South Lincolnshire with training. Advice will be given by trainees under supervision) Citizens Advice South Lincolnshire is also open at the following:

• Holbeach Youth Centre Boston Road South, Holbeach. PE12 7LR Friday 10:00am - 3:00pm Drop in for a 15 minute assessment am, prior to being offered an appointment • Sutton Bridge (Curlew Centre) Monday-Friday: 10:00am - 12noon Free telephone for clients to Adviceline. Pre-arranged video link by appointment only

• Market House, Market St, Long Sutton: Monday: 10:00am - 3:00pm Drop in for a 15 minute assessment am, prior to being offered an appointment • Migrant Worker Helpline times:

Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri - 9.30am - 4.00pm Thur - 12.00pm - 7.00pm

0344 847 6128