Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Notimefortossers · 18/12/2015 17:53

You are not entitled to defer payment because it's Christmas

Fa la la la la la la la la!! ;)

BrushtheHeat · 18/12/2015 17:53

Olive is olivepip, a poster who is a landlord who has said that this thread is making her say no to accepting hb claimants. And I did explain that x 4 is a mistake. Obviously my computer had a brain fart.

BigChocFrenzy · 18/12/2015 17:54

As there are few proprties available to rent in the area, the LL would almost certainly serve notice for the OP to leave in May if there is any shortfall in rent payment that was not agreed.

Then the OP will have a terrible time finding somewhere else with a bad reference.
Far far worse for DCs than just Chrismas with the family, safe at home, gifts to come later when the money is there.

Also sounds like there is a significant risk that the OP may only get HB for January, since the mistake was hers.
Pay the rent in full; don't risk either arrears or payday loans when you don't know how much HB you'll get, or when.

goodnightdarthvader1 · 18/12/2015 17:56

Thanks for clarifying, brush, should have looked back a page!

goodnightdarthvader1 · 18/12/2015 17:58

If the OP's LL is such a bitch, I don't understand the logic of

"screw her, I'll pay rent late because she's mean, she deserves it"
versus
"I don't want to give her any ammunition to use against me because she's mean, so I'll pay my rent on time"

Either way, OP doesn't seem at all interested in other suggestions.

BrushtheHeat · 18/12/2015 17:58

Do you think I made my point to her clearly though, goodnight ?! Grin

goodnightdarthvader1 · 18/12/2015 17:59

Ha, extremely, brush :)

MrsDeVere · 18/12/2015 18:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BigChocFrenzy · 18/12/2015 18:02

Sadly, my current agents and the previous 2 (all chains) won't even consider HB tenants due to such problems.
It's a worrying trend.

expatinscotland · 18/12/2015 18:03

'The OP is only talking about holding back a small portion of her rent in order to give her children a Christmas. She knows she will be able to pay the difference only two weeks late. Doesn't sound like it will break the bank for her landlord.'

People would honestly pay their rent and not give their kids anything for Christmas?! For the sake of two weeks!? You're bonkers

You would honestly consider doing yourself out of a good reference when you are reliant on HB and put yourself in danger of not having your tenancy renewed for fucking Christmas?! ONE bloody day? A commercialised roast dinner?

For real?

She has £50. That's not nothing.

Is one bloody day out of the whole year really that big of a deal?

APlaceOnTheCouch · 18/12/2015 18:05

OP you have to prioritise paying your rent. Also you have to rethink your attitude to your LL or move. LLs will come and go with tenants but not ones that are entitled and difficult which is how you are coming across. A bit of mutual respect goes a long way.

You've said you need to pay for bills and food. As a PP said, utility companies and phone companies will allow a degree of lateness in payments. Your LL probably won't have the capacity to absorb the payment you miss. I have no idea why you are thinking she should be out of pocket rather than yourself or any of the larger companies that you're planning to pay. It seems you're being spiteful and that's the opposite of what Christmas is about.

Be aware too that if your arrears reach a certain level, your LL can get the HB paid directly to them so it wouldn't even reach your account.

doitanyways · 18/12/2015 18:05

Thanks, MrsD Flowers

I agree with you totally with everything - I just think some of the answers don't acknowledge that even though there's a 'right' thing to do it doesn't mean it's 'easy' if you see what I mean, and some are just too harsh!

expatinscotland · 18/12/2015 18:05

'But debt is dreadful when your finances are precarious. If she defaults on the rent she could be setting off a spiral that could see her homeless.'

This.

And it's not 'a small portion' of the rent, it's £600. That's a lot of money to most people.

DinosaursRoar · 18/12/2015 18:07

NoTimeForTossers - the OP has said she struggles to move as there's little locally for rent she can afford. The OP has said that she knows what she pays is less than the landlord's mortgage each month - so it does sound like the landlord could put the rent up at the end of the fixed term and if the OP decides to move out, replace her easily with someone who will pay it. Whereas the OP would struggle to find another 3 bed for the same rent, particularly if she's now reliant on HB, which a lot of landlords with mortgages can't accept.

The Landlord can evict her in May. May is not that far away, it is unlikely the area will suddenly become awash with cheap family homes in May.

ghostyslovesheep · 18/12/2015 18:07

pay the rent

Christmas is a week away - I'm struggling with the idea that have nothing at all yet?

Pay the rent - buy cheap food (Co-op is doing a meal deal for Christmas) go to poundland and buy cheap bits - kids wont care - they will have a home!

BadLad · 18/12/2015 18:09

I'm a LL. Looking for tenants. Had a call today asking if I'd consider renting to HB.

I'm afraid on reading this thread I'm going to say 'no.'

Same here. I mostly rent to students, and leave the university to sort it out. They tend to take good care of the houses, since finances are tough, and they want their deposits back. Not a chance I would rent to someone on HB.

sugar21 · 18/12/2015 18:11

Christ in a bucket. Peace and goodwill to all !
I hope you can get sorted out OP, I wish I could help you but I don't have the means.
Sorry you are having such a tearful time.
It would be best to pay the rent Flowers

ghostspirit · 18/12/2015 18:17

i think alot of people are on HB because jbs do not pay enough/ high rents.

my landlords are not very nice.. but one of the good things is that all housing benefit is paid direct to them. and its put in writing that i give them permission to talk to HB when/if needed. so they always know whats going on and why. its often HB that mess up. but it still makes the tenant look bad. not fair on either party.

but some people get their housing benefit paid to the tenant. and then tenant passes to landlord so how would they know they get HB if they are also working.

expatinscotland · 18/12/2015 18:17

I hit the charity shops in a large city all Sat. afternoon last week. LOTS of great stuff as people are clearing out stuff to make room for more stuff at Christmas. Good prices, too.

doitanyways · 18/12/2015 18:19

I love charity shops but if you're broke its still money - plus parking, or train/bus fares ...

ghostspirit · 18/12/2015 18:20

and toy bundles on ebay are a good idea as well. if you can find any local. maybe Fb Selling pages

expatinscotland · 18/12/2015 18:21

'I love charity shops but if you're broke its still money - parking, or train/bus fares ...'

She's got £50, possibly more if she gets a food bank reference, and if you're in town to go to Poundies, you can browse in there.

ghostspirit · 18/12/2015 18:23

how old are ops children?

Olddear · 18/12/2015 18:24

Bills first, Christmas second. No contest.

APlaceOnTheCouch · 18/12/2015 18:26

We've worked with HB tenants for years. The OP isn't representative ime and I'd hate for LLs to discount HB tenants because of the OP. It's not being on HB or not being on HB that makes a tenant good or bad. Yes, the LAs can be a pain in the arse and yy there can be delays in payments but that can also happen with working tenants or corporate tenants.