Is the Lettings Agent taking the P**S a bit? Absolutely desperate now!!

[siriusmew]

This is not the first post I've done on my current position but the situation is getting more and more dire. We fell behind with our rent in November due to cashflow problems in DPs business. We informed the agency straight away and made an agreement to be up to date by the end of December.

The agency issued a notice to quit as a precaution. When it became clear that we would continue to struggle we told them we would be letting the notice stand to be out on the 31st of this month and began looking for another smaller place straight away. The council are helping too and we now have a housing benefit top-up. We went to view a property last wednesday and said we'd like to take it. They said they'd find out if the landlord would accept HB.

We have had 11 viewings on our property with 4 more scheduled for the coming days. DP went in today to find out about the potential house and the weren't very hepful, said they didn't know and just shrugged when he said we had no where to go. One of the agents has just rung me to arrange another viewing (a new woman) So i asked her if there was any news form the new landlord. She asked the same woman DP asked this morning who replied. "NO they don't"(accept HB). We'd be completely up to date by the end of our tenancy so i don't understand why they're being so unhelpful. We've been with them 3 years with no previous problems. So DP says we should refuse to move until we've found somewhere else. I think this would bugger up our chances with every other agent in town. We've got 18 days to find somewhere and move. WWYD?

Shameless bump!!

After your notice runs out your landlord has to take steps to evict you which is not a quick process unless accelerated proceedings. In that time you have I would go to different agencies to see which ones will have landlords that accept HB and look for independent landlords as well. You can go to your local council/ housing advice centre (if you have one) and see if they have a list of agencies that accept housing benefit. Also check if you might be entitled to help from a rent deposit scheme because the estate agent is likely to keep your deposit to cover some of the arrears.

The arrears have been sorted as have deposit and stuff for next house. Waiting t hear back from other agencies. Have been very limited up to last week as the only other agency which accept HB also charge £300. My uncle has offered to help out with this. I just don't ubnderstand why the agency we're with now is being so unhelpful. Surely it's in their best interests to ghave the house empty by the end of the month for new tenants?

Sorry thats £300 for admin fees.

Some agencies just don't want Housing benefit tenants for various reasons. Have you checked with council to see if they have a list of agencies that accept HB?

Don't know what to say, i rent my flat out now that i'm living with OH in his but my mortgage company won't let me take housing benefit tenants

We've applied for some houses through another agency. It was just "our" agency not telling us a house had fallen through for a week and generally being really unhelpful.

Keep your options open as much as possible because it can be very difficult to find HB properties.

The whole situation is making me feel sick.