Haven’t paid rent in months!

[Uppoopcreek]

I’ve just realised I haven’t paid my rent in around 6 months! I don’t know how this could have happened?
ive lived here around 4 years. All I can think is I set up a standing order a while ago and it didn’t work properly?
now, I have pretty severe MH problems. Awful anxiety and depression(probable ADHD but still waiting for an appointment to start the process). I never check my bank, I’m behind with other bills, too. I’m a bury my head in the sand type of person, but worry constantly about everything, About a month ago I hit rock bottom. Won’t go into details, but it wasn’t great.
I have 3 DC, and I’m on benefits.
Help! What do I do?! Had a text from landlord last night asking me to call him, which is what’s just prompted me to look now. I was asleep when he text.

@EagerExpert I’m assuming that the guarantor won’t want to see the OP and her children homeless-I’m not saying that loaning money is financially sensible, just trying to come up with possible solutions.

I don’t honestly think that the landlord will agree to a long term payment plan with the OP unless she can come up with at least part of the arrears owed quickly, do you?

We don't know how the LL will react but he hasn't noticed the missing money so he clearly isn't relying on it, and therefore might act generously towards a tenant who clearly has problems. It is somewhat in his interests, because evicting a tenant is a slow and ghastly process for both parties. He might be willing to accept just a proportion of the money owed if OP agrees to move out immediately, and accept an IOU for the rest to be paid whenever the tenant can manage it.
I'm saying this as a LL - I wouldn't want to pressurise a desperate tenant for rent, or ask the guarantor, but I would want the person to move out to somewhere they could more easily afford and sort out benefits rather than staying there accruing more and more unpaid rent.

You’ve misunderstood what I’ve written. I said nothing about guilty tripping or manipulating, just an honest conversation.

Some people genuinely dont need the money and it isn’t the main driver of their motives (the landlords didn’t notice for over6 months, I’m not suggesting this mean he doesn’t mind, but clearly it’s not the most important thing to him. It’s ok to think slightly differently to you isn’t it? Or is that not allowed?🚫

Unfortunately, I expect the taxpayer will pick up the tab. There are kids involved and it is illegal for them to be homeless and parents are fully aware of that fact.

The council will advise her to stay until she's formally evicted and then she will be emergency housed. They'll then almost certainly get a council house and the council will claim the rent direct from central government.

It's not illegal for children to be homeless. I think you mean that the LA have a legal duty to house them if they are legally homeless, which is quite different.

If it's illegal for the council to not house them, I'm not sure there's much difference at all.

Do you have ANY idea how difficult it is to get a DHP, even with genuine reasons unlike the OP? I apply for them for people pretty much every week. There is no way that OP will get one because she forgot to pay. No way.

For a starters get your rent paid direct to him from your universal credit why are you not doing this already

Is very confusing... are some posters saying so you MUST rent to people on benefits if they want your property?
So one flat, 27 people after it, 17 on benefits 10 not, it's illegal not to take all of the benefits people?

Of course that’s not how it works in reality, no matter what some idiots would have you believe.

It’s cheaper and easier for the council to pay off the arrears of someone with presumably demonstrable mental health issues who can show that they are in dire straits than to support a whole family through an eviction including temp accom which costs hundreds of pounds per week for however long it takes. In fact they can use a case like that to show that they are carrying out prevention work and have stopped someone from becoming homeless. Its not a solution to any of the problems raised but this is what happens in reality.

Good point re being cheaper than emergency housing. But then the council should arrange a plan for her to pay it back to them. As it was clearly spunked up the wall. Neither the landlord or the council should be out of pocket here for something totally avoidable.

I agree, the only way that OP stands any chance is if she offers to pay back the money quickly.

I got into arrears with my landlord when I was 20 odd, and they wanted the arrears paid back ASAP.

I’ve seen this done before but quite a few years ago now and via a housing department after an eviction notice had been received rather than through housing benefit but can’t remember what it was called. Presumably they’d had specific funding.

There is no way that someone doesn't notice that the biggest bill they likely have hasn't been paid ....and for several months 🤔
Especially when monies already tight - where did she think the extra hundreds of pounds per month suddenly came from??

So many councils are going bankrupt these days that they may not be able or willing to do it. It does make sense though if the debt is gradually clawed back.

It came with certain conditions, engaging with budgeting support, setting direct payment to landlord for future payments and some other bits and pieces, the idea being that nobody could then just run up arrears again and expect them to just be dealt with repeatedly.

That sounds like a good scheme that also would be helpful for the tenants in learning new skills re budgeting.

OP are you sure you've had nothing from the landlord? Do you open your post or is part of burying your head in the sand ignoring it?

I find it hard to believe you've spent all the rent money without noticing bit it's done now so no point dwelling on it.

I hope you cam get this resolved for the sake of your children but also for yourself

You can't afford too when your running a home and have children.

Make sure you have money coming in, roof over your head and the basics for the kids. That is not a joke

Priority bills come first.

I imagine the extra has been spent on a 1st December box, matching Xmas pjs and other unnecessary tat.

Silly response. MH doesn't just disappear if you have kids.

Yes, this rings very true.