Unable to pay full rent

[bratzdoll]

I'm a single parent currently on maternity leave so I receive UC monthly to help pay my rent and further bills. I'm private renting but I got the flat through the homelessness scheme (when you're homeless and in temporary accommodation but willing to take a private flat instead of waiting years in temporary accommodation until a council flat is available)

The benefit of private renting through the homelessness scheme is that the council are in contact with Landlords that are happy to rent to someone on UC and are usually happy to negotiate the monthly rent price.

I moved into the flat a few months ago and always pay my rent to the Landlord's agent one day before it's due just so the receive it without any problems or anything.

This month my UC was around £1100 less than it should have been because my employer incorrectly reported that I had earned around £2500 last month
I'm still only receiving SMP so I have no clue how they made such a drastic mistake but this means DD and I are living on near to nothing this month.

I sent an email to the Landlord's agent a few days before the rent was due to let them know the situation. I included screenshots of my UC Payment page so they could see the breakdown of what I normally get and see what was deducted. I did say I was able to contribute a small amount to the rent (less than £200 as I was given less than £400 from UC to live on for the month)
I also let them know that I spoke to my work coach about what happened as she's raised this with the investigation team so hopefully she'll hear back from them soon.

I spoke to the agent on the phone the day before the rent was due (I always speak to the manager btw) and she was very understanding and just said to update her with what happens. The next morning I get an email from her saying the Landlord was not happy at all (understandingly) and that I need to do whatever it takes to be able to pay the rent in full including taking out an overdraft!

I've never not paid my rent since I've lived here and it's not as if I got the dates mixed up or I spent the money on something else. The rent amount wasn't given to me for no fault of my own. I was a bit shocked at the Landlord's response as I'd literally given him more than half of what I received just to be able to contribute something. When in reality I could have kept it and spent that on myself and my daughter as we desperately need it!

There's often a discussion on Twitter about some Landlords and how they refuse to be understanding even in unavoidable situations. I understand I'm renting and effectively helping to pay off his mortgage, but this wasn't my fault at all.

(just in case anyone wants to bash me for being on benefits, I've been working full time since I was 17. It's more or less impossible to be a single parent living on SMP)

@Magicalwoodlands

you are actually paying me for the investment of half a million I have chosen to make into property

You seem to think it's ok to impact your landlord when the problem is yours

If this is a serious post, I’ll address it.

If someone has half a million in property yet is ‘impacted’ by a single mother of a young baby in low paid work struggling with her rent, then that is simply pure greed and avarice, that is the only impact. And it is wrong, very wrong.

Some of these posts just make me sick. the sheer greed and arrogance of some posters is unbelievable. They have absolutely no fucking idea !

@A8mint

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Look, you’re hellbent on being provocative so perhaps you need to state what answer you’re looking for in order to fit your narrative.

You clearly have an issue with lone parents. As an FYI I married and had children with my husband. He died as someone killed him so now I’m the only parent left. Not out of choice. Is that wrong too?

You don’t know why people end up bringing up kids alone. She could have been fleeing domestic violence, been raped or quite simply chosen to have a baby with someone who doesn’t pay. It’s irrelevant. The OP is clearly clever enough to know whether she can get maintenance.

Ugh.

@Lineofconcepcion you may have a million pounds invested in property, but sadly you have not an ounce of decency. A horrible comment to leave for a struggling new mother.

@Babyroobs If I was an MN mod I would be hitting the ban button like a trojan at the moment.

[quote julieca]@Lineofconcepcion you may have a million pounds invested in property, but sadly you have not an ounce of decency. A horrible comment to leave for a struggling new mother.[/quote]
Well said.

Most of the time I think landlords get a hard time on here. But this thread shows how many are greedy sociopathic cunts.

I hope all your tenants trash their homes and default on their rents.

[quote julieca]@Babyroobs If I was an MN mod I would be hitting the ban button like a trojan at the moment.[/quote]
Me too. Absolutely disgusting.

If you mean me, I don't mean the council housing department. I specified social services or the council because depending on your area it would be a different place to access their emergency funds for families with young children who cannot afford their energy due to extenuating circumstances. In most areas this would be via social services, others it's the food bank, a local low income scheme or the council social care department.

@Clymene

Most of the time I think landlords get a hard time on here. But this thread shows how many are greedy sociopathic cunts.

I hope all your tenants trash their homes and default on their rents.

Some of the LL’s on this post have been decent though. They are out there!

@m00rfarm

Well. I hope your landlord doesn’t read your comments on how you are funding private schools for their children or going on holiday with your rent money. I was a landlord for several years and my budget was tight every month. The money I got for the rent did not cover the cost of the mortgage. Let alone insurance and maintenance. But I could not sell. So please don’t make assumptions. You don’t know and it’s not your business. The innocent party here is the landlord but your vitriol seems reserved for him and anyone who doesn’t agree with you. Your company is at fault. Remember that and maybe use your aggression on payroll.

You'd be in that position if the property was empty though so having a tenant is always helping you. No tenant - no money. Tenant and part of the money is better situation for you than no tenant at all...

@Babyroobs, I totally agree, and would like to see how some of these people would cope if their lives fell apart and they found themselves living on never quite enough.

Thankfully they are out there @LolaButt

Rents are increasing in the south-east because of the hostile environment in which landlords are expected to run their business. Many landlords are getting out of the prs due to issues around UC, legislation, higher costs, hostility of press and the political environment.

If you think that is going to help people (tenants) who cannot afford a mortgage and probably never will, it isn't. We have the lowest interest rates in our history, and yet when they start going up the repossessions will be dire, and it will negatively impact the prs.

Yes I have contingency. Why is that relevant to whether rent is legally due?

You don’t know why people end up bringing up kids alone. She could have been fleeing domestic violence, been raped or quite simply chosen to have a baby with someone who doesn’t pay. It’s irrelevant.

Thank you @LolaButt ridiculous that this even has to be said

@Lineofconcepcion

Rents are increasing in the south-east because of the hostile environment in which landlords are expected to run their business. Many landlords are getting out of the prs due to issues around UC, legislation, higher costs, hostility of press and the political environment.

If you think that is going to help people (tenants) who cannot afford a mortgage and probably never will, it isn't. We have the lowest interest rates in our history, and yet when they start going up the repossessions will be dire, and it will negatively impact the prs.

Yes I have contingency. Why is that relevant to whether rent is legally due?

'Hostile environment' okay 🤣

OP hasn't said she WONT pay the rent, just that she can't right now. So your 'buffet' would mean you could offer help and space for the tenant to get that rent to you.

Your employer fucked up and in doing so fucked you over.
Can you ask your employer to pay the landlord directly and you will pay him back when it's sorted?

@TheCheesyBakedBeanGetsGlam she wouldnt qualify. They would expect her not to give all the money to the landlord so she can pay for heat. The people I know who have had payment through these funds are people who have had a house fire and lost lots of belongings, etc. It is for unusual circumstances. Giving all your money to a landlord who is probably only going to have to wait a few weeks anyway would be seen as your own poor choice.

@julieca enough so they do not claim any benefits from the state, are sensible enough to ensure they have a contingency and don't expect the rest of the tax paying public to subsidise their lifestyle choices.

[quote Lineofconcepcion]@julieca enough so they do not claim any benefits from the state, are sensible enough to ensure they have a contingency and don't expect the rest of the tax paying public to subsidise their lifestyle choices.[/quote]
Reduced ability to work due to a disability, leading to a benefit too up isn’t a life choice. Just one example of why your discriminatory approach is flawed.

I was told to prioritise rent over everything else in this situation and that if I didn't I would be seen as intentionally homeless (with young DC). I had to access a one off electricity payment from the social care department at my local council and use the food bank until my universally credit issue was resolved. I was told that if I did not prioritise my rent over everything else I would be seen as making my family intentionally homeless. I'm not saying that is how it should be but it is how it is.

@Lineofconcepcion

Rents are increasing in the south-east because of the hostile environment in which landlords are expected to run their business. Many landlords are getting out of the prs due to issues around UC, legislation, higher costs, hostility of press and the political environment.

If you think that is going to help people (tenants) who cannot afford a mortgage and probably never will, it isn't. We have the lowest interest rates in our history, and yet when they start going up the repossessions will be dire, and it will negatively impact the prs.

Yes I have contingency. Why is that relevant to whether rent is legally due?

No many landlords are getting out because of some legislation that means they have to maintain their properties, give deposits back unless there is actual damage, and pay a bit more tax on their earnings. It is a slightly less attractive investment than it used to be. I am sure you will find somewhere else to invest your fortune instead. And the properties will still be rented out. Hopefully by professional landlords instead of the sleuth of amateurs we have had over the last few decades who haven't often a clue about the law and thus act illegally.

But it's ok to fund landlords.
Is that it?

@TheCheesyBakedBeanGetsGlam that is my experience as well. And why I pointed OP to food bank help with gas and electric top ups if she’s on a pre payment meter.

@Skyll

I'm sorry you've been through the same thing. I think a lot of these schemes are area dependent. I live in a different area now and have helped others access a similar scheme and it is through a homeless charity. It does seem to depend a lot on area.