Rent arrears

[Pixxie7]

According to news night there are thousands of people who have fallen behind with their rent. Whilst I appreciate some are genuine I can’t see how anyone on benefits or on a pension can have been that badly affected. Similarly with people furloughed.
So my question is are a lot taking advantage of a bad situation.?

I don’t like rude people, calling someone ignorant implies that they are lacking in knowledge uneducated. I expressed an opinion nothing more nothing less

Yes, but your opinion isn't founded on the realities of being on benefits. You are ignorant of the facts.

And it would strike me that you are in fact unknowledgeable of those people's situations if you've managed to arrive at such an opinion.

It’s the assumption that peop,e on benefits don’t work. Why does that persist?

You sure seem to get hurt and upset by others expressing their opinions

Ironic isn't it.

@Pixxie7 why are you so invested?

OP you have to remember, an opinion isn’t fact. You can hold whatever opinion you like - it doesn’t mean you are right.

You also have to remember that if you express a strident opinion in a public forum you are going to get strident replies. And if you're not up to dealing with those replies, perhaps keep that strident opinion to yourself.

It’s not just people who are unemployed who claim housing benefit though is it. Many people on minimum wage or zero hour contracts have their wages topped up, quite rightly. Those people would have been stuffed.

Also I’ve noticed that my food bill sky rocketed during lockdown especially in the beginning. It really fucked me over.

Of course it’s not a fact but that goes both ways. I am not offended when people state their opinion, but calling me ignorant was a uncalled for personal attack.

Honestly if Boris Johnson's government has more understanding of poverty than you....words fail me

Beggars belief, doesn't it?

Your opening post could also be seen an an uncalled for personal attack.

I don’t like rude people, calling someone ignorant implies that they are lacking in knowledge uneducated. I expressed an opinion nothing more nothing less.

OP It doesn’t just imply that, I’m saying it explicitly. You are ignorant because you are uneducated on this matter.

Your opinion here comes from a lack of knowledge ie. ignorance.

A distant relative is self employed and a single mum and is behind with her rent as she couldn't work and any benefits she is entitled to doesn't cover all her bills : her landlord is great and very understanding , but for how long is anyone's guess. She was in credit for a while start of the year , but that's gone. She is doing her best and back to work now but it's hard to catch up when you've had many weeks out of work and relying on benefits for a top up.
Its awful and she has always worked hard.

Foamrolling has it spot on in my opinion, you seem very touchy about being told you are ignorant.

You ARE ignorant. You are lacking in knowledge and experience. You started this thread from a flawed viewpoint because you had made an incorrect assumption.

When people tried to educate you, you doubled down on your position and still stated that you didn't understand.

From this, I infer that you are unable to change your opinion, either because you genuinely don't have the capability to understand what people are telling you, or because you don't want to accept that you are wrong.

It is ok to admit you are wrong you know, it's a valuable life skill.

@Pixxie7

Of course it’s not a fact but that goes both ways. I am not offended when people state their opinion, but calling me ignorant was a uncalled for personal attack.

Ok.

I’m on benefits. I’m also in work.

Many many people are like me.

I’m disabled. I’ll always be on benefits for the rest of my life.

Now, benefits are only a portion of my income. I get pip. I have to pay my rent myself. I’d be entitled to pip if I earned £100 k a year. It’s not income dependent.
I’d have a take home pay of 4949 according to the salary calculator.

All of a sudden that would drop to 2500 if I was furloughed.

I’d still be on benefits.

And my food bill doubled, my electric went up as soon as dd1 came home from uni. And she and dd2 both lost their jobs so didn’t have any income so I was paying for their incidentals that they usually paid for themselves - make up remover, tampons, phone charger leads and the like.

Can’t you see how people might struggle even on benefits?

Holding an opinion that is not based in fact is ignorant

"lacking knowledge, information, or awareness about a particular thing." is a standard definition of Ignorant. Your opinion (to which you are entitled) shows a lack of knowledge which you are rightly being pulled up on.

I'll tell you my circumstances shall I.

I was furloughed, I usually get a good 10-15 hours overtime a week.

The overtime has stopped, I got 80% of my contract wages, which then it me slightly (£15) under then benefit cap so it took another £500 off my usual universal credits as well.

I'm falling behind on everything, plus I've had to spend a shit load more on stuff to entertain and educate my kids during lockdown, and have had to pay out more on electric and gas too.

It's really not hard to imagine the circumstances where people gave fallen behind, is it

Most debt advice places say that the first bill you should pay is your rent.

I imagine there are some piss taking tenants but would hope the majority have tried to do the right thing. If nothing at all has been paid then they deserve to be evicted, frankly.

I would hope that the majority will make arrangements to pay back the arrears.

The rental income is vital for some. Our neighbour's mother's house is rented out to top up care home fees. If her fees aren't paid the nursing home will evict her. So far the tenants have been honourable.

I can’t see how anyone on benefits or on a pension can have been that badly affected. Similarly with people furloughed

The Government furlough scheme paid 80% of people's salaries. Some employers topped up the lost 20%. A drop of one-fifth of your salary is substantial - and might well put you in debt or arrears.

My tenant was furloughed without a top up - I reduced the rent by 20% for that period as it seemed only fair.

What else is anyone supposed to call you when you're being the definition of ignorant?

It’s basic maths isn’t it? Income goes down, costs increase. Even if you’re on benefits and those remained the same, costs of living have increased.
That’s fine if you have enough to make up the shortfall. Not fine if you were only just breaking even each month pre-COVID. If you have a stark choice between feeding your children and paying rent, there is no choice, effectively.
A small minority probably are taking the piss, and will have done so before COVID, and will continue to do so long after this is over. Don’t let this small minority cloud the very real problems a significant number of those in rent arrears, and other debts, are facing.

I'm not going to spell out exactly what humiliation has brought me to my knees, but it combined with Covid shutting down mine and dc's industries (both SE) and no tangible help. (dc got grant with one hand, wiped out by late returns fine with the other, I got nothing)
If Covid hadn't happened we would have done what we always do, taken on more work, and worked even harder, paid everyone, and kept the wolf from the door.

I raised my children that all they had to do was be prepared to work hard, and things would be ok. Our right to do that is gone.

For the hard of hearing: OUR WORK HAS BEEN TAKEN OF US.

Most debt advice places say that the first bill you should pay is your rent.

All well and good unless you're faced with choosing rent or feeding your kids.

Or the council have brought in bailiffs for CT arrears, and you have to rob Peter to stop Paul destroying you.

In the hope you'll be able and allowed to work again in the future.