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.

You can easily spend more than you realise when your mental illness involves avoidant behaviour such as not checking your account.

You can also spend more than you realise when prices rise significantly, which they have done. Maybe the OP kept the heat on?

Overall though, serious anxiety and other MH issues can result in a huge financial mess. Bills can go unpaid very easily.

Just because you have mental health issues does not mean you take no responsibility over your own financial matters.

That is why they should put plans in place to ensure your rent is paid first and this is exactly what the OP should have done.

But she didn't so what is the point of posting that unless your aim is to make the poor woman panic more/feel worse than she already is?

It is done. It cannot be undone. Pontificating about what OP spent the money is useless, it won't help OP, her kids, or her LL.

All that can happen now is a plan to move forward and prevent this from happening again eg getting the rent element paid to the LL directly, setting up an affordable payment plan if the LL is agreeable, and contacting CAB for budgeting advice. Plus some support for her MH issues if there isn't already something in place.

You can easily spend more than you realise

Not by several hundred pounds per month when you are already on a low income ....

I suspect that it is often the people with the most severe MH problems who don’t use it as an excuse for their behaviour. Some people unfortunately like to plead MH issues to explain their feckless decisions.

And yes, I do have severe MH issues myself so I understand how difficult life can be

If the OP is actually telling the truth then I would worry whether she is capable of looking after her children.

Yet you could take legal action against landlords discriminating in this way. Also the law differs across the UK nations.

Being able to get away with something is a different matter to it being legal. I thank my lucky stars every day that I don’t have to rent. Working in homelessness is a real eye-opener.

Hi OP. This thread seems to have been derailed a little bit, so wanted to add some practical advice, which has been said, but maybe missed.

1. contact LL and guarantor, if not done that already. Also council's have a homelessness team, contact them for advice.
2. contact a debt charity or service. When you have MH issues, even the smallest thing seems overwhelming, and they won't judge you.
3. speak to your GP or MH worker if you have one. It might be meds are needed/ adjusted/ further support is needed for yourself. Also, if your MH condition makes managing money harder, you could ask your GP or MH worker for a letter stating that, for debtors records. If you have MH issues, debt collection services SHOULD (but always don't, sadly) treat you as a vulnerable person. If you have a trusted family member or friend, ask for their help to manage your finances. Is there anything you bought you could sell to raise the rent money?

It's not ideal, but what's done is done, and trying to take back control and trying to fix your finances is the best way to go, not dwelling on what's happened. I hope everything works out.

It’s illegal for councils not to put a roof over the heads of the children. However that happens in whatever form, The council, if it’s classed as “intentional homelessness” have no obligation towards the adults. 🤷‍♀️

Sorry but I think the OP knew exactly what she was doing

Exactly. People who have addiction issues or in a manic bipolar cycle are not going to check their bank account after every purchase. It's easy for someone in a bipolar cycle to get into thousands of pounds of debts I'm a tiny period of time (my friend is bipolar and that's what happened to her, and it was caused by a tiny drop on her meds dosage) it's not an excuse but it can be a reason.

I doubt anyone in the grips of addiction or mania would have the wherewithal to even care that they were in debt or bother making posts on MN.

Has your housing benefit been paid to you and you’ve spent it? You can ask it to go direct to landlord. Request that tomorrow.

I've previously been a landlord to a few properties and I would be furious at your giving mental health reasons as an excuse. There is never an excuse to get out of paying what you owe and I don't want to know about people's personal problems when it comes to financial agreements.

I work with clients with mental health problems, doing mainly welfare rights work but also some basic debt work and coaching in budgeting.

The challenges many people with MH issues face in dealing with what, to most of us, is straightforward stuff, are often insurmountable and support services that help them deal with it have been cut to the absolute bone. Poor mental health is not an excuse, it's a reason, @Attelina.

OP, if you have a CPN or any other sort of support, ask for their help. They may be able to refer you to a service like the one I work for that can help you with this. If not, get an appointment with the CAB. If you're on UC, put a note on your journal asking the DWP to set up an "alternative payment arrangement" (APA) so that your rent goes directly to the landlord; if on HB, ring the council and ask them to arrange for your HB to be paid direct. While that's going on, work out how much you can afford to pay on top of your rent to reduce the arrears. Then speak to your landlord and explain how you propose to clear them.

If you have a trusted friend or family member who can support you to do this, ask for their help. And for the next few weeks, don't buy anything that isn't essential.

I wish you all the best in dealing with this, and really feel for you.

@Uppoopcreek Sadly the danger is twofold I'm afraid.

As you have missed 2 months [or more] rent the landlord can probably simply start proceedings to end the tenancy under Section 8.

Please speak to him to see if he will - as others suggest - make an arrangement to pay off the outstanding balance over time.

The other possible problem is that the housing department may already take the view that your problems may result in intentional homelessness.

Please speak urgently to Shelter or Citizens Advice

@Uppoopcreek

You could smoke on planes - for heavens sake!

I agree.

You need to engage ASAP, you’re at risk of a section 8 being served on you.

You state your mental is poor currently are you engaging in support services?

How on earth do you not notice 6 months of extra rent in your bank account?
Wow !

Come on OP, can we have an update please?

how have you been allowed to get to 6 months behind? did someone not chase you before this?

Have you made sure it hadn't come out on a different date to the one you were expecting? I hope you get it sorted with out too much stress.

I imagine op absolutely noticed. Why else would a request to return her landlord’s phone call have her immediately checking her bank account?
Why immediately jump to the conclusion that your non payment has been rumbled?

Surely if you never check your bank account then all the money that should have been paid out in rent from your incoming benefits payments will still be in your bank account? Even if you overspent a bit here and there, you'd surely not have spent 6 months worth of rent without realising it.

Maybe you should also feel for the landlord who is thousands of pounds out of pocket .