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)

Well then, to be fair that really should be acceptable to the landlord, they could get off in writing.
It’s easy to be kind x

I know it wouldn’t solve the immediate problem, but have you tried to get maintenance from the child’s father as that is not deducted from your Universal Credit.

You're at the third person to ask that question. As it hasn't been answered the first two times I wouldn't hold out for an informative response.

Why should it?

A man not paying child maintenance. So unusual.

OP didn’t post about one of those insane Mumsnet round about the houses posts, where when she tells everyone that her kids dad claims JSA and she’s decided not to claim £3 a week and therefore she is ignoring helpful advice and Have You Tried.

She is trying. She’s working.

I’d like to see you lot if your work didn’t pay you!

@DeepaBeesKit

You aren't "helping to pay his mortgage"

He is running a business of providing accomodation. He has to pay mortgage etc on that property and the the bank don't care if your UC has been messed up.

Blame UC, don't blame the landlord. There's far less money to be made in property these days, they probably make a lot less than you realise and will be paying tax on it too.

Hang on, I'm just getting out the world's tiniest violin.

Why is it that the landlord is entitled to not pay his mortgage but she’s not entitled to not pay her rent?

He isn't entitled not to pay his mortgage (if he even has one) - try it, and the lender would soon start rattling the bars

Another thing that occurred to me is that, with Christmas coming up, he might be twitching about getting his money even when the UC comes through. I'm not suggesting for an instant that OP would pull this one - after all she didn't cause the mess in the first place - but I'd find it hard to blame him if he wondered about this

No mortgage lender would start repossessing a house over one missed mortgage payment, especially when partial payment has been made. And you know it.

Why are you angry with the landlord, not your employer for the mistake? It’s not the landlord’s job to be sympathetic and understanding when you can’t pay your full rent. He’s probably worried you’ll make a habit of it or that you’re coming up with excuses.

Landlords often rely on rent to pay the mortgage, council tax, some even live off rental payments so a missed month could put him in an awful position financially. Of course he’s going to be cross and doubt your reliability!

You said in the OP you would give the landlord less than £200 as I was given less than £400 from UC to live on for the month
buy you must also have your maternity pay and child benefit as income? So you don't just have that

@FateHasRedesignedMost

Why are you angry with the landlord, not your employer for the mistake? It’s not the landlord’s job to be sympathetic and understanding when you can’t pay your full rent. He’s probably worried you’ll make a habit of it or that you’re coming up with excuses.

Landlords often rely on rent to pay the mortgage, council tax, some even live off rental payments so a missed month could put him in an awful position financially. Of course he’s going to be cross and doubt your reliability!

God I'd hate to be the tenant of someone with such terrible budgeting skills and such tight margins that a single partially paid month's rent would put him in 'an awful position financially'. Someone that feckless shouldn't be responsible for anyone else's home.

It is easy to miss one mortgage payment, especially if you explain why. People do it all the time. If your employer failed to pay you one month in time, your mortgage lender would be sympathetic. They wouldn't say to give them all your money and rely on a foodbank to feed you and your child until your employer paid you.

Quite right, Magicalwoodlands, but they'd still send the usual missed/partly missed payment letter, especially if they'd not been kept in the picture

Again that wouldn't be OP's fault as she told the agent straight away, but knowing what some of these agents can be like it's entirely possible they loused up explaining things to the LL

@BudgeSquare amateur landlords are the pits. People who don't realise you have to have spare money if you run a business. Its why the government had to introduce a tenancy deposit scheme by law, because so many landlords ran off with the deposit or couldn't pay it back.

And that letter would be courteous, urge you to discuss problems with the bank and would want to reach a resolution. Pretty much what the OP is doing.

So that’s what the landlord can expect. The OP - chuck her out.

He is probably concerned if it becomes a regular thing.
UC sounds like a nightmare.

I feel for you op. It’s a frustrating situation. As a fellow single parent and homeless mum I can commiserate how horrible it is not knowing how much you’ll be paid or if you’ll be paid each month. My work messed up my wages too and paid me too much so took all of my housing benefit away, which is fine I could pay but next month when I get the amount I should usually get I won’t be able to afford full rent. My heating bills have tripled and food x 5 is ridiculous even buying the cheapest stuff. I’m still in temporary accommodation as no scheme such as yours but I can see how easily that can happen on uc. It’s just a fragile and vulnerable way to live. We’ve been in temp for 4 years so totally understand why you chose that route. I doubt hell serve notice on you for one month. Things happen sadly hopefully it can be sorted soon.

Hi OP. I’m a landlord. I’m sorry for the unkind response. We aren’t all bad. The landlord can say what they like and are understandably a bit worried but there’s nothing they can do. They can’t give you notice for only one month of arrears. UC are a nightmare but they are also reliable. Can you ask them to write to the landlord confirming they will correct their error and that they will get their payment? Or maybe for the long term tell them to just send it direct to him/her so you don’t have to get involved when they screw up?

@flippertyop

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

Out of interest what grounds would you use to serve notice?

Because I suspect you know sod all about renting out property.

The situation is what it is. Your landlord is being unreasonable for suggesting that you overdraft in order to pay rent. Why doesn't he overdraft to pay his mortgage?

@Iamkmackered1979

I feel for you op. It’s a frustrating situation. As a fellow single parent and homeless mum I can commiserate how horrible it is not knowing how much you’ll be paid or if you’ll be paid each month. My work messed up my wages too and paid me too much so took all of my housing benefit away, which is fine I could pay but next month when I get the amount I should usually get I won’t be able to afford full rent. My heating bills have tripled and food x 5 is ridiculous even buying the cheapest stuff. I’m still in temporary accommodation as no scheme such as yours but I can see how easily that can happen on uc. It’s just a fragile and vulnerable way to live. We’ve been in temp for 4 years so totally understand why you chose that route. I doubt hell serve notice on you for one month. Things happen sadly hopefully it can be sorted soon.

Ah i'm so sorry to hear that! @Iamkmackered1979

It's such a horrible situation being in temporary accommodation. As there's no sort of similar scheme I guess you're waiting to be housed in a council house?

I don't think some employers understand how one little mistake can have such a knock on effect on people's lives. I hate wating until that specific date each month to check my payslip and UC amount. When you see a mistake has been made it's just gut wrenching, I hate it. My thoughts are with you and seriously hope things get better soon

Bless you, OP. I guess many of the cold hearted responses on here are from landlords who depend on people like you to fund Tarquin and Annabel's school ski trips etc and can't believe you have the temerity to not be wealthy! How dare you!

No advice other than what you've already been given, but just wanted to send warm wishes that you manage to get it sorted soon. I would be making my employer's life hell until it was resolved, personally.

[quote julieca]@HoardingSamphireSaurus yes the advice is always to prioritise rent amongst all debts. But the OP and her baby has to eat. What do you suggest? She pays the landlord all the money she has and doesn't eat and has no nappies for her baby? Is that really what you are suggesting?[/quote]
That isn't what I said, suggested or thought. There are 2 things I did say

1. OP stops venting, blaming her LL. That's just banging her head agains a brick wall and will get her nowhere. What she has done, clear and timely contact and explanations, updates, is what she should do. She can't do anything lese to reassure the LL but keeping in contact will at least not be disappearing on them.

1. What can OP actually do? She has her work coach on task and is looking to get her work to contact her. I am not even sure if getting a loan from her employer wouldn't make it worse with UC... it's such a pig's ear of a system.

What do you suggest?

Given that her LL could issue a s21, depending on her contract, rent does become more of an issue. You can't just shrug and sat 'whatever' or 'sod them'. How do you suggest OP manages this?

Out of interest what grounds would you use to serve notice?

Because I suspect you know sod all about renting out property.

S21 is still a legal avenue in England. And although the courts are quite backed up the timings for serving them are ow back to normal.

So, no grunds at all. Just S21 served when the AST allows. And then OP will have to work her way back through the system but this time with a possible ccj on her back.

I'm not trying to scaremonger but some of the repsonses here are a tad cloud cuckoo land. OP has to deal with a fucked up system and a now spooked LL!