Moving from council flat with rent arrears

[Alice211]

Hi,

I live in a 2 bed council flat and the property is so unsafe and unsuitable for me and my baby, there’s constant drug use from the other flats and anti social behaviour, the flat itself is so unsafe iv had problems with sewage coming up from my bath, unsafe lighting, major damp problem in bedrooms, and now rats have entered my flat (I’m a very clean person, always mop&clean floors, food is never left out) i have spoke to landlords and they refuse to do anything about all these issues, they won’t even come out they told me “if they got in, they could get out”

So iv applied to go with housing association and iv used a different address as I have arrears with my flat, my question is if I use an address such as a family members will the housing association be able to check? As I know having arrears will stop me from moving?

It’s worth noting I’m on universal credit and get my rent paid full

Thankyou in advance for any advice

You will likely need a reference from the council. Also lots of these companies work together so I wouldn't be surprised if you're already on their system.

Why are you in arrears if you get your rent is paid in full?

Yes how could you be in arrears if your rent is paid in full?

and as the PP said, these organisations work together so there is not really a way to hide your current address.

If you have all those issues with your property and are getting nowhere with the housing office, contact your local councillor. The housing association will want all sorts of information, if you use another address potentially fraud. If you have arrears have you made an arrangement with your housing office to pay them off?

OP,

There are a lot of issues in your opening post.

The environmental problems, rats and mould are the responsibility of your landlord. If there is a rat problem, you should report to the EH office so ab inspection can be done in the area. If there are building works going on in the area, such as construction, rats will surface, so report the infestation today.

You say you're in a council flat. This suggests your landlord is the council. If the property is in a poor state of repair, you should request an inspection with a disrepair report.

Rent arrears - it is in your interests now to make a payment arrangement towards your rent arrears. As you're claiming UC, you could ask for an alternative payment arrangement so your rent is paid directly and ask your landlord to apply for a third party deduction to pay your arrears off. That shows you are addressing your arrears.

As for the different address? Can't help there other than to say, I wouldn't recommend it.

How are you in arrears if your rent is paid in full?
I really wouldn’t recommend lying.

I suggest you are honest about your address to the housing association. Tell them at the correct time about the arrears and give the reasons.
Follow up with Environmental Health about the rats. You say the landlord isn't interested. Do you mean it is a private property that your local council is renting from a third party?
Are the rats inside? Do you know where they got in? Are you living there with them? Some services will be on hold because of lockdown, but this sounds like a priority call out.

Yes they’ll be able to tell.

So presumably you mean that your rent is paid by UC but the money is paid to you and you've not paid your rent. Now you're giving a false address. Ring Shelter and see what they advise.

Dont use another address to make an application as that is fraud , and your application will be cancelled when they find out ( and they will) .
Put yourself on home swapper if you want to move and contact enviromental health about the repair issues etc. Also contact your housing officer about the asb they should be addressing it . Good luck.

Make an agreement to pay your arrears off , you wont be allowed to mutual exchange or move with arrears.

if you use a different address and he council then find out - this will effect your council tax reduction, effectively if you are staying you don't live at your present address then you won't be able to get council tax reduction and then you'll be fraudulently claiming.

Do you really want to end up with fraud making investigations into your benefits?