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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Housing Benefit suspended:pay rent or do Christmas - can't do both!

380 replies

NoMoneyMona · 18/12/2015 14:00

I had to put in a claim for top up housing benefit as my job contract ended in October. DH works full time but rent is very high (£1200 for a 3 bed) and we have 3 DC.

I have been unable to find another job despite applying for at least 2/3 most days, as many want weekend workers/evenings, and DH works weekends/eves anyway so we would have no childcare.

HB started paying about 3 weeks later and shortly after that they sent a letter asking for more evidence and gave me a month to supply it. Part of the evidence requested was a new child tax credit award showing the new award since I stopped working as amount would increase. I still did not have a new award by the time the month was up (and I forgot to chase them) so I contacted HB the day after the month was up to explain.

They stated, quite correctly I agree, that I should have contacted them within the month they gave so they could give me more time and as I did not contact them, they had suspended my HB and it would 3/4 weeks to reinstate it. The next day, I got the award notice and took it in to them but they insisted that I would be at the back of the 'queue' and they may not get to my claim before Christmas so I may have to wait until January as they close from the 24th Dec to 4th Jan.

That was 3 weeks ago. We have not had any payments since 23rd November. DH got paid today and if we use that for rent next week (and direct debits, normal food), we will not have a penny left. I will have £50 in tax credits to come as well which will not cover many extras. I have not bought anything for DC as I kept putting if off hoping for the claim to be reinstated. When I rang today, they said I would be unlikely to get any money before the 11th January! We have no access to credit.

WWYD? Would I be unreasonable to keep back about half of the rent and pay the rest when the HB restarts which will cover the shortfall?

OP posts:
goodnightdarthvader1 · 18/12/2015 15:12

Who do I put first the landlord or my DC?

You're not really understanding this. You don't seem to see the correlation between your LL and your own situation. As PP have said, if the LL defaults on the mortgage because your payment is late, YOU will be out on your ass.

So what you should be asking is "Who do I put first, my home security or my DC?"

FuckingCrumbs · 18/12/2015 15:12

Who do I put first the landlord or my DC?

You are putting your DC first by paying your rent and ensuring their home is paid for.

Christmas dinner is just a roast with a few trimmings, it doesn't need to be expensive. I've just got 2 turkey legs that I'll be cooking, turkey legs are quite big, and both cost me under a fiver.

northern78 · 18/12/2015 15:12

Where we live a local church is offering a free Christmas lunch for anyone in need. Is scything like that operatingein your area.

Hullygully · 18/12/2015 15:12

It's really very simple: you have a contract with your landlord which states that you can live in that property and in return you pay your rent.

You can't just decide not to because it doesn't suit, especially when you have the money.

A lot of people seem to find the concept of a contract really hard to grasp

Hullygully · 18/12/2015 15:13

Honour the contract you signed and pay your rent.

Simple.

Sunnyshores · 18/12/2015 15:13

whether shes rude or not, your ll is not a bank.

Hullygully · 18/12/2015 15:14

haha thought the first one hadn't posted hence short second one. More succinct anyway.

NeedAScarfForMyGiraffe · 18/12/2015 15:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

wafflerinchief · 18/12/2015 15:16

i think you need to look at what you can qualify for from the food bank and toy drive before you make the decision on how much to temporarily knock the LL for - you don't know what's round the corner in Jan, so do some investigation before you make your final decision.

leopardgecko · 18/12/2015 15:17

Maybe you should sell your mum's property to pay for her fees so your tenants aren't paying it for you. Maybe you shouldn't acuse others of being rude and then behave in a rude way yourself.

Oh thank you so much shutthatdoor I was stupidly and pathetically upset at the OP's statement that the tenants were paying my mum's care home fees, when all we are trying to do was to find a way to finance her care permanantly, that did not rely on having to claim benefits, as she would have so hated that. Thank you again x

Stimpack · 18/12/2015 15:17

You need to put your landlord first, not paying the rent could affect the landlords ability to pay the mortgage.

EssentialHummus · 18/12/2015 15:20

I also think you need to think carefully about the tone of your communication with the LL when you explain this. Apologies if it's stating the obvious but you sound pretty mean to her here.

NattyNatural · 18/12/2015 15:20

Speak to your landlord first, I'm a landlord on several properties and if someone contacted me with your situation id be inclined to waver half of the rent until your able to pay it back. I couldn't bear the thought of the kids not getting a Christmas present.

If they say no then maybe ask family or friends for a temporary loan?

Good luck x

MadrigalElectromotive · 18/12/2015 15:21

I think you should pay your rent.

I understand that you are Sad about Christmas but by paying your rent on time and in full, you are putting your children first because you are protecting the roof over their heads.

Baconyum · 18/12/2015 15:29

I'm afraid I'm with Martin Lewis on this. Christmas is the same day every year, not hard to plan for it. Plus you were working until October, on a finite contract. In addition you admit it's your own fault the hb ended up suspended.

I'm on a very tight budget, it's also my dds birthday next week. I do think you don't need £600 for Christmas! Maybe £30 to cover food extras and £50 per child for gifts is plenty. You haven't answered how old dc are either which would enable posters to suggest ideas.

Nor have you answered if there's other bills that could go unpaid/change date on direct debits? Your essentials are surely rent, council tax and gas/electric/water?

If ll mortgage is higher than rent it's actually costing her to have you there! (Stupid frankly) so being rude about her is out of order really.

As pp have said there's also food bank could help, plus freebie sites on fb/free cycle etc

For a few years I've done 'vouchers' for my daughter (just made myself) for gifts I know will be much cheaper in the sales than pre Christmas prices. She loves it and some of her friends have asked their parents to do the same even if money not a major issue as it gives them something to look forward too. With some gifts it even means they get to choose the version they like best. Some of the parents have included things like summer days out to eg theme parks as a few of us have winter babies and it means they get a summer gift.

jay55 · 18/12/2015 15:30

How do you pay your rent? If it's standing order you're probably too late to change the amount.

NotMeNotYouNotAnyone · 18/12/2015 15:30

Talk to landlord and ask if you can pay £1000 now and the rest in Jan. You do not need £600 for Christmas!!!

If they say no then tough luck you have to pay it all.

If they say yes, have a lean Xmas and pay the ll the rest in Jan.

You're not prioritising you landlord you're prioritising keeping a stable home for your family

Sunnyshores · 18/12/2015 15:32

Having financial difficulties is awful and the impact this time of year on children especially is really sad, but we all have to live within our means, its not an entitlement to spend what you want regardless Hmm

Original poster
NoMoneyMona · 18/12/2015 15:32

I will not be spending £600 on presents but will need to have some more set aside to pay for food until HB is paid.

Even if it wasn't Christmas, would it be unusual for people to not be able to pay their full rent while they were waiting for HB to paid?

OP posts:
leopardgecko · 18/12/2015 15:33

It's really very simple: you have a contract with your landlord which states that you can live in that property and in return you pay your rent. You can't just decide not to because it doesn't suit, especially when you have the money.A lot of people seem to find the concept of a contract really hard to grasp

As the evil bitch landlord on here, I can only say we evicted our tenants who prioritised children's gifts and extra food and drink, over their rent. We had to, for the reason's stated above, and it was remarkably easy.

Please, OP, listen to this one thing. You are not paying your rent to line the pockets of a greedy landlord, you are paying your rent to give you and your children a home. Home is more important than Christmas presents - really it is. And I speak as I have been buying my children's gifts in the Poundshop today, meaning I can fulfil all my financial responsibilities first.

Good luck though x

goodnightdarthvader1 · 18/12/2015 15:33

I also think you need to think carefully about the tone of your communication with the LL when you explain this. Apologies if it's stating the obvious but you sound pretty mean to her here.

I also thought that. I get the impression the OP will contact the LL to TELL her that she won't be paying her full rent, not to ask her.

muttonaslamb4 · 18/12/2015 15:35

Stunned by your attitude towards money that rightfully belongs to your landlord- doesn't matter if she has Christmas covered or not, doesn't matter if she has children or not, it's not your call to withold her money- it's essentially stealing.
Can understand frustrations with housing benefit but, once again- that situation has nothing to do with landlord- why should she cop for it?
Fair enough if you approach her but that whole expecting her to have a buffer - it just beggars belief.

MyFriendGoo52 · 18/12/2015 15:37

See if your bank will authorise an overdraft ?? If not there's no reason you can't have xmas day number 2 in a few weeks is there ?? Would be fab !!

Newbrummie · 18/12/2015 15:39

Ok and I speak as a landlord here. The world will not end if that rent isn't paid on time. It takes up to 12 months to evict somebody if they haven't paid rent for months and months and breached every term on the lease.
The mortgage might be late but again, the bank won't start proceedings until 2/3 payments have been missed.
It's not ideal, but the bloody HB situation is a nightmare and when LL's take on HB tenants they know to expect this sort of thing which is why most aren't keen.
I would send the LL something and explain, you can do no more.
Have a nice Christmas sounds like you've been through a lot.

leopardgecko · 18/12/2015 15:39

I get the impression the OP will contact the LL to TELL her that she won't be paying her full rent, not to ask her.

And that is exactly why we put the wheels in motion to evict our tenants. They believed they were entitled not to pay December's rent because financing their Christmas came first. And were genuinely surprised this was not acceptable.