Housing association chasing me for rent,do I have to pay?

[fireburningss]

I rent my property through a h/a in the north east.
My rent is £480 a month (which includes water rates -they pay direct to Northumbrian water )
At the moment I am working part time.
I checked my rent account (stupidity never check) and I was £700in credit
After going through my account I seen over two years two payments from Northumbrian water for £222
I rang Northumbrian water who said they couldn't discuss my account but could tell me the housing association applied for a water bill reduction as I'm on low income .
They didn't tell me
So I've been paying full water and they have the 50% discount from Northumbrian water
They told me h/a do this a lot.
So I worked out the money I had been paying when I shouldn't and deducted it
So I paid £350 rent this month (probs more than I should )
They rang saying I was £130 short and pay immediately.
I told them about the water discount and how they had been getting full water from me and the payments from the water company.
They said the money from Northumbrian water just builds credit on my rent but the water company said it's to help me out ,so I don't have to pay as much.
Is this correct ?

@fireburningss Know how you feel about the HA getting extra money on top of the rent There is no accountability.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5109616-to-think-social-housing-tenants-need-their-horizon-moment-and-lessons-have-not-been-learned

The water and rent are one payment
It's a weekly payment of both combined
I don't pay both separately

I understand that you only make 1 payment, but that payment is divided into different components. So, it used to be common to pay rates( pre poll tax etc) with the rent. The rates element wasn't part of the rent. It was forwarded to the rates section.
Different housing providers might provide different things, heating, water rates, even electric. I worked in housing in the public sector for a very long time. The various elements will be forwarded to the various organisations, but you consider it all to be rent.

On my statement it has 1 figure which is either in credit or arrears
All components show so it has rent then water
The money from Northumbrian water has been added to the complete rent account not just a water section
So I don't understand why I'm paying full water after they've had 50% back and is showing
All this money they are just taking and if they do it to all their tenants they must be loaded.

You need to pay your full rent. Meanwhile submit a formal complaint to the council, then the housing ombudsman and also of ofwat.

It isn't that difficult to understand what @HaleyBrookeandPeyton is saying.

Keep paying full rent for now.

Complain in the manner that @HaleyBrookeandPeyton has described.

Once they address the complaint they should at that stage refund you or ask you to pay a lower amount next payment and set a new rent payment reflecting the discount.

But for now pay at the rent payment set initially until resolved.

And ask for their policy on refunds of water rate payment. They should have one.

It is not up to you to randomly decide to increase or reduce your payments. You know why you are doing it, but when they look at your account, all they see is you paying less in than you’re supposed to.

As others say, you need to contact them about the water charges FIRST and discuss and reach an agreement which might include paying less for next weeks. But any reduction needs doing in agreement with them and not just you deciding. You don’t have authority to do this and make this decision.

It is all about communication. Speak to relevant people and email do a record is kept. Don’t act unilaterally as even though you have reasons to do so, it won’t be clear to them.

I didn't say I didn't understand
What I said was my rent account is in credit
So as long as it's in credit it should make no difference.
Also there's been no communication from them about even applying for this reduction on my behalf
When in reality it's no benefit to me
It's them getting more money

When I say "I don't understand " I mean it's ridiculous to expect more money from me when I'm already in credit more than I owe

But the reason you are in credit isn't due to you overpaying rent. It's a rebate from the water company and you need to know what their policy is in respect of that. If you paid direct to the water company it wouldn't be rent. I'm not disputing that you should complain, I'm just trying to explain that it's not rent.

@NewGreenDuck yes but my point is I have been paying full water rates in my rent payment for 2 years
So I have paid full water when it should of only been half water
So they've had this rebate and my full water payment
Then have said I still have to pay full water when I should only be paying 50%
The only way I can get the 50% I've over payed back is to reduce my rent 1 month
Or they are having both

OP is refusing to listen to anyone just pay in full get a copy of the complaint process and follow it

you can blunder through use your own logic but ultimately on paper your in arrears and could lose your tenancy

@rwalker how am I in arrears ?
My account clearly states In credit

You complain. That's how you sort it.

Op, are you prepared to email or ring to discuss it and resolve the issue WITH THEM?
This can only be resolved if you communicate with them.

They rang saying I was £130 short and pay immediately

I have already spoken to them and they said the water discount just adds extra credit to my rent account.
I paid short but my account states I'm in credit

My account as of today is £732 in credit

Yes, you are right. Make a point by not paying and loosing your house. That will show them!

@GetyourheadoutoftheovenIris I'm not sure I have heard of many people being evicted whilst being in credit

Enough whining. You've been given good advice. You don't have like to it or the system but what you need to do to fix it won't change. So either follow the advice and get it sorted or don't. Yes, it is rubbish but you have a choice to do something or not.

I understand what you're trying to say I think.

The error is that they called you asking for more money. They shouldn't have done that if you're 700 in credit. So no you don't have to pay more as your account is in credit. Tbh am surprised they even rang you as most don't until you are in arrears.

Just make sure you stay with 1 full week in credit on your account. They can't evict you if you don't owe money, they'd be laughed out of court.

I'm not whining
It's just ridiculous and they are clearly ripping folk off
It's not hard to understand that

Good luck!

I don’t have any experience of social housing but I’m guessing that you would usually need to pay the amount due as stated on your tenancy agreement while they investigate any complaints or you risk your tenancy?
Do you have dc?