Housing situation. Feeling really low.

[DancinUnderNeonLights]

Hello. Is anybody about tonight? I could do with a friend.

I posted previously about a situation with my new letting agents & them not taking my ex off the tenancy. (This still isn't resolved)

Anyway, today they sent me a letter stating that the rent will go up by £300 a month.

I cannot afford this.

I contacted the council (online, it says that they can negotiate with landlords, but all they actually said was to make a council house application & go away, really)

I did the council housing application.
I also applied for the crisis & resilience fund (I had this previously & it just ran out)
They sent me an email stating that I'm spending more than I was back in April & why is this, & that I have more CC debt than I did in April, & why is this. So I don't think that this will be successful this time.

What else can I do?

I'm not working (I get LCWRA) but I'm trying to find a job.

I struggle really badly with anxiety (As well as having other stressful situations going on in my life right now)

So I feel like this doesn't look like I've done 'much' but it took a lot of mental strength to do what I've done today.

I was trying to find a friend who I could go & sit with today, in my contacts, but I didn't want to burden anybody in the end. So I thought that I'd ask on here tonight.

Anybody?

Im so sorry youre going through this, it sounds really tough. Do you have family who can help you out?

Is it a private rental? They can’t just increase the rent by letter- it has to be a statutory form. Also you can challenge the rental increase and a Tribunal will set the market rent (which may be more than you are currently paying of course but may not).

Thank you for answering me Winniepup17 I don't have anybody. There's 'only' my mum & she's 76 with cancer & she's been giving me £100 a month for the last few months (which I feel terrible for, although I've never taken a penny from her for my entire adult life before this)

But she was saying today 'Speak to UC, they will help you, they won't leave you to suffer'. They will, though.

I don't want to go into details but I'm down £1000 a month since last December & I feel like I've been in free fall since then, I just can't get on top of my finances.

I knew that this rent increase was coming (although I've been willing it not to) but £300 a month is HUGE & I just can't do it.

ClarasZoo Yes it's private. I think (from Google) that they've done everything by the book. They've given me notice (first payment 01st Feb) & have notified me by letter, given me a new tenancy to sign (with my ex's name on!!!)

& Sent me leaflets of 'similar properties' & their cost, to show that they aren't overcharging me. Although I'd argue that these properties are lovely & done up & mine is just a mess & falling apart (even though they've had their builder in to decorate, it's bodge jobs, half finished, & still stuff to be done)

But none of that matters.

The rent is going up by this much. I don't know what to do.

So first you need to start the ball rolling with council for homelessness, you don't need to wait to be made homeless. However, if you cant afford it, you cant afford it. They will need to go through the eviction process.which isnt quick.

Would also be easier if we understood your financial sitiation a bit more. How are you down £1000 a month? How much is coming in and feom where, whats going out?

Go and get some advice from shelter or a CAB so that they can check the rental increase has been done correctly. I’m not sure why they need a new tenancy- they all just roll on now, no need for new tenancy agreements.

Can you post your income and outgoings. Someone might be able to advise what wale you can apply for and we can see if there are any outgoings that can be reduced. Do you have kids?

Is the Crisis and Resilience fund the same as the Discretionary Housing Fund? If not, perhaps try applying for that. If it is the same, can you reapply?

If you get LCWRA, do you receive the housing element? Will UC not increase your Housing Element if you tell them your rent has gone up?

You should be able to go to a rent tribunal. Please speak to Shelter urgently.

Challenging a rent increase - Citizens Advice https://share.google/QGBXHCF00MH6EJDdT

BrieandChilli My kids are with their dad. They stay with me 6/14 days.

I will not be responding to any judgemental comments about that.

Income is £1440 UC
£750 rent (currently)
£120 gas & electric
£30 water
£22 broadband
£10 phone
£9 Amazon prime
£22 pet club (reduces vet bills)
£50 ish vet bills
£10 C.tax
£50 lunch money for child
£50 buses

I think that's it... TV licence 4 monthly I think.

I'm incontinent so costs related to that.

I need buses now & then as I have tears in my Achilles tendons so can't walk far.

I know that I don't need the Amazon & my poorly cat costs me a lot.

There are no other benefits, I simply (!) need to find a job.

ClarasZoo CAB is a good idea, thank you.

CombatBarbie I tried to do that today but they just told me to get on the council housing list (which I've done)
Maybe I can send them an email & explain the situation.

DHP does now come under the Crisis and Resilience fund (CRF) and is now call Housing Payment. I know in Essex it is still a separate form. You can get CRF to cover bills /replacement/repair of items if you have suffered a sudden an unexpected financial shock. The ‘dhp’ element is a separate thing and old rules /criteria still apply. Given that the op has already had a CRF pay out I would be surprised if she is awarded it again if nothing further has changed in her finances. It’s only a short term award.

Thank you PunishmentRounsupWithJoon No I'm getting the maximum amount for a single person (£600) the crisis & resilience fund was topping this up until last month to £700 & I was paying £50.

Yes I believe it's changed it's name & I reapplied for that today, thank you.

I've been speaking to a company to help me with finances in general & they said (last week, I havn't spoken to them about the rent increase) to ask the council for help with a tumble drier due to my incontinence so I did that as well today, but I think they are going to say a blanket 'No' for any further assistance.

Thank you MustTryHarderAndHarder I will try Shelter. I spoke to them previously regarding names on the tenancy.

Hi OP, I’m sorry I don’t have much in the way of practical advice at this time but I didn’t want to read and run when you’re feeling low. I’m sorry you’re going through this and struggling at the moment. You’re not alone on MN, I know it’s ‘only’ online but there’s always lots of people who have very helpful advice and also someone just to offer a bit of moral support, so absent any particular knowledge on my part about housing options (but it does seem sensible to contact the council) I just wanted to be a friendly ear and say don’t give up heart, and you’re so much stronger than you think. I know just how much mental strength it can take just to get through the day when you’re suffering from anxiety and there are other difficult things going on.

one suggestion - and this may not be an option at all, but given rent increases and general cost of living, would moving in with your mum be an option?I know you said she’s cancer so appreciate that might be completely not an option.

Yes, toomanyhobbies They didn't seem happy when they emailed me earlier & said that I'm spending too much & why has my CC debt gone up (vet bills)

Sunloungerhogger Thank you for being kind. Your post made me cry, & I didn't think there were any tears left after today... Unfortunately there's no space so it's not an option at all.

Are you in England? You can go to tribunal. There's more information here: https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/private_renting/rent_increases/challenge_a_rent_increase

They should take the condition of the property into account. Your rent will stay at the original (lower) rate until the tribunal makes a decision.

Is the £50ish vet bills the credit card? Is that the only debt? Are you getting a housing benefit element in your UC? Are you also getting LWC limited work capability? If you are incontinent and cant walk far, have you applied for PIP?

WaryCyanStork Yes, I'm in Suffolk. I will look into that. Thank you.

Actually, does anybody know if I should have been sent a condition of the property condition report? (Or whatever it's called) I had somebody round to check after they'd done repairs & I pointed out things that still need doing to her, & she mentioned some to me too, that I'm so used to living with that I don't notice anymore, but should I have a copy of this?

CombatBarbie I usually end up paying for the last week (or 2) food on the CC as well as any extra vet bills that fall at the end of the month.

I didn't include that.

There's also £9 parenting app (court ordered)

Yes I think (from memory)
It's £600 housing element
£400 single person (Sorry I think I said £600 up thread)

Then
£400 LCWRA so £1440 altogether.

Sorry CombatBarbie I missed half of your post.

The CC is the only debt but the monthly payments are taking most of what's left.

I was advised by these debt people the other day to reapply for pip although I applied 2 years ago & only got 2 points for incontinence.

@DancinUnderNeonLights can you possibly move to a cheaper credit card? The citizens advice bureau are brilliant at helping you find any missing benefits you might be entitled to.
I would apply for pip again. If they turn you down you can ask for a mandatory reconsideration.
Good luck hun 💓

shellyleppard I don't know how the balance transfers work but I think if you borrow on the card it costs you a huge amount. Is that right? So I'm not sure.

I don't want to be stuck in this cycle of using CC each month. This debt company said that they can get the monthly payments halved but I'll lose access to the card & I'm just not sure, as eg when my cat needs a blood test it's £110 & I need the CC for things like this.

I will do the pip form again. I take it so badly when people don't understand the impact of my incontinence but I'll give it another try.

There are no other benefits. I have a letter from SS stating that I need housing allowance for a 2 bedroom & UC paid no attention to this, so I've accepted there are no more benefits. I need to find a job.

How much debt is there and what are you repaying at the moment? Is the cat vet bills for an ongoing long term illness? Gather its not covered by the other 22 vet club thing you are paying.

CombatBarbie It's £5000 & the monthly payments is £220.
No the £22 reduces things like I think the blood tests should be £125 but they are £110 with the pet club.

I'm locked into that until July as I had to sign up for a year & I needed it for my cat to have an operation last July. Yes it's several long term illnesses fur my cat that all came at once around January.