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)

You didn’t say that you weren’t at home so I didn’t know you could not do that.

@Skyll

You didn’t say that you weren’t at home so I didn’t know you could not do that.

I know I didn't say that, that's why I'm letting you know? What's all the tension about bloomin heck😵‍💫

This thread is awful.

It is November and rather cold. The OP needs heat. She needs to eat. She needs nappies for her baby. She may need transport costs.

She can’t just hand over every penny to her landlord and nor should he expect her to.

This does not mean she sees rent as an optional bill. It is one bill of many. She has paid what she can afford

After the things you have accused me of and the way you’ve treated me you’re surprised that I clarified?

this Landlord has willingly taken someone on from the homelessness scheme knowing that UC isn't as reliable as if could be

Yes, he has, and with UC being a nightmare and having fallen out with a previous UC tenant I'm surprised he did what so many won't

Clearly none of this is your fault, OP, but then it's not his either, which is all the more reason to keep him onside as much as possible - not just for your own sake but also for all those others who LLs so often won't touch

This does not mean she sees rent as an optional bill. It is one bill of many. She has paid what she can afford If that was a response to my post - I explained - if OP does feel differently about rent thn other bills, is focussing on the landlord's response rather than thecause then it will affect how she feels about him - she might want to adjust that, in order to stop feeling angry with him. This isn't his fault and his response isn't out of order, though it may lack compassion. Feeling angry with him is a distraction and an additional stress OP doesn't need.

Yes, he has, and with UC being a nightmare and having fallen out with a previous UC tenant I'm surprised he did what so many won't

I’m not.

If his place was empty for a year I’d bet he’s one of the LL’s who went on the scheme because he couldn’t get other tenants who’d stay.

@Skyll

After the things you have accused me of and the way you’ve treated me you’re surprised that I clarified?

Okay clearly we got off on the wrong foot! This is the Internet where no one knows anyone, tones can easily be misinterpreted. Clearly I misinterpreted your tone in your first few comments so apologies are in order. I appreciate all the help you've given so far, this is just a stressful experience that's all

If I was your landlord I would serve notice. The UC is given directly to you to pay the rent. That's what you should do with it - it's not your landlords problem. You should speak to your company about a bridging loan

You can claim more than one Discretionary Housing payment but I'm unsure whether you can do so under these circumstances.

Worth getting in touch with the Council.

If his place was empty for a year I’d bet he’s one of the LL’s who went on the scheme because he couldn’t get other tenants who’d stay

Could be, yes - though if there'd been endless problems already I imagine OP would have mentioned it

Then again, of course, it's only been "a few months" ...

Can you not pay what you can this month and Split the overdue amount over the next 3 months? Pay it on top of your normal amount?
There is something about maternity leave that when claiming tax credits / UC you are allowed to dis-count £100 x 39 weeks =£3900 when declaring income to HMRC

Blame your employer that messed up and fuck everybody else up.

She should feel angry with him.

It may not be his fault but it isn’t hers either. Why is it that the landlord is entitled to not pay his mortgage but she’s not entitled to not pay her rent?

Clearly none of this is your fault, OP, but then it's not his either, which is all the more reason to keep him onside as much as possible - not just for your own sake but also for all those others who LLs so often won't touch

This

@flippertyop OP was homeless beforehand and wont be helped to find another place until she was legally evicted. So you would have an expensive eviction process. And if the rent is paid within the next month a judge would refuse to evict her.
Might help to know the law if you do decide to become a landlord.

Rent is a bill you have to pay. It isn't something else, something optional. It is as absolute as any other bill

@HoardingSamphireSaurus I never said paying rent is optional at all. My point was that I wasn't worrying about what the Landlord was going to do with his own mortgage. I was worrying about my daughter and how I'll pay for bills (including my rent!) I just wasn't sitting round thinking about my Landlord's mortgage. That's not to say I wasn't disregarding my rent

if I was your landlord I would serve notice

Which of course you would be free to do.

But you still have a legal process to follow as I am sure you know which could get rather costly.

Surely much better to wait a few weeks and be paid the rent?

I always used to wonder who those Victorian bastards were who threw mums and babies on the street. Now I know!

@Nikkic2123 that is what she has done. Pay what she can and will pay the rest when she gets her UC reimbursed.

@Magicalwoodlands Yep, you can see them all on this thread. Oh, it's winter and you have very little money for food and nappies. No matter give it all to the landlord. Who cares if you cant eat and will freeze to death. I am sure there is some charity somewhere that can help you.

I'm a landlord and have loss of rent insurance to cover this kind of scenario. My insurance policy requires me to email the tenant immediately if the tenant fails to pay any rent, and demand full payment. If I failed to do so, the insurance would be void.

But since you aren’t an absolute arse I presume you would explain to the tenant why you had done this and be slightly less threatening in person.

If I was your landlord I would serve notice. The UC is given directly to you to pay the rent. That's what you should do with it

Did you even read the original post @flippertyop I wasn't given the full amount and just spent it on bullshit because I could. I was given £1100 LESS than usual. How do you propose I pay the rent when the amount hasn't even been given to me?

@butterpuffed

You can claim more than one Discretionary Housing payment but I'm unsure whether you can do so under these circumstances.

Worth getting in touch with the Council.

Ah right I didn't know that, thank you. I'll keep that in mind just in case this situation doesn't get rectified for whatever reason

There are some really cold hearted people on here.
Quite, quite amazing, and sad that people can be so brutal about a payment cock up which has left someone short of money.