Absolutely terrified of eviction! Help!

[KatieScarlettontopofthetree]

I have just read a thread on mortgage payment holidays and people were discussing the fact that private renters can get housing benefit if their income drops. If so how long does the money take to come through? My DH has been having cash flow problems within his company which have resulted in us becoming behind with the rent. The landlord has kindly agreed to let us pay by the end of the month but has issued a tempoary notice to quit in case we don't. Now it turns out that these cashflow problems are not as temporary as he thought. I am really worried about being homeless. Does anyone have any advice for me?

Please???????

I think you should contact your local housing benefits office in the morning. Explain the situation to them and ask what there advice would be. We have always found them very helpful. The money can take quite some time to get sorted out but they will give you proof of your claim so you can let your landlord see it. If you go to see the housing benefits people take as much information with you as you can. They will need utility bills addressed to you as proof that you are the person claiming. It never hurts to take photographic evidence - passport, driving licence etc.

It also wouldnt do any harm, if you are not satisfied with the answers you get from housing benefit to contact Citizens Advice. Where we live there is also a service called Homeless welfare. They really are the experts on housing problems.

Tonight just make a note of what you want to ask them - it will go out of your mind when you telephone or visit

Dont panic - make it your mission to sort this out asap. Definitly housing benefit is your first call. Good luck.

....also dont be nervous around them - they all go to the toilet just like me and you.

When we rented the house the agency said the landlord would not accept DHSS. Is housing benefit the same thing?

Housing Benefits comes under the DHSS - BUT our ex landlord said the same and when my husband was made redundant some 5 years later he accepted the fact that we had no other choice. To be honest, housing benefit, is, I think, a good thing for landlords. At least they know that the money gets to them every month without fail. Everything you think of that is worrying you make a note of it and tick off the questions as you go along. Try not to worry - easy for me to say I know - but worrying wont solve anything.

if your circs change and you have a drop in oncome or get made redundant then it's not your fault if you then have to rely on housing bens for rent. I don't know if your landlord would be that meran, as long as he/she was getting the rent paid.

In fact, on the forms these days you write down who your landlor is, and you provide proof pf rent payment/tenancy agreement/or even bank statements, and they don't even contact the landlord.

Yrs back the landlord had to sign your form.

If your income has dropped significantly you may have a claim.

Housing benefits is normally in the same building as council tax/council tax bens, so you may have a claim for help with both of these.

A lot of landlords wont accept DHSS because they have had lots of problems with people on benefits. We rented our house for 11 years but before that in just 1 year our landlord had about 10 families who moved in and out of his house and generally trashed it. Of course not everybody on benefits acts like that (my husband and myself are on benefits for the first time ever and we are both in our 50's) but many of them are a bad example for the good people.

Good points Ruby.

Thanks so much for your advice!Have already given the landlord £400 toward the rent (christmas money)and after posting this I really do feel a lot better. Was starting to feel quite desperate!

Do you have any other debts, especialy any paid by direct debit or standing order?

Behind on most things Ladymuck. Wanted to get rent sorted as a priority.

Have you spoken to tax credits people about change of circumstances - they normally make adjustments straightaway over the 'phone. Might help with cashflow.

If you can get to see CAB then I would. Entitlement to benefits is usually slightly more complicated if you are self-employed, they can also help you in terms of straightforward debt management. Obviously rent is a priority and they will help you draw up a financial statement to help show any other creditors that they should be accepting lower repayments at this moment. They can also help you with information about the eviction process and how to ensure that everything has been done properly.