Rent arrears...HELP

[BumpandMe9230]

Please bare with me as this is my first post.

I'm currently at 33+3, with my first baby.

At around 20 weeks, due to a complete relationship breakdown (that's a story for another post) I ended up in temporary accommodation.

After a little help from the local council (rent deposit scheme) and a lot of willpower I found myself a lovely little one bed flat.

Everything was plain sailing. I was working full time, rent was paid. THEN I became ill. I was signed off work with stress related illness and high blood pressure at 26 weeks.
I immediately looked into entitled benefits etc. I was awarded universal credits, perfect. However the amount I was awarded does not touch my £595 rent payment.
I am also STILL waiting for maternity allowance.
This inevitably led into a shortfall for my rent and I've entered into arrears.

Last month I paid £200 towards my rent to at least appease my landlord and his agents, however this month I've had no such luck and haven't been able to pay anything.
I handed in my resignation to my job a month ago, something that saddened me as I LOVED my job, but due to the nature of the work and my ongoing health issues it's just not feasible right now.

Im now living in fear that my landlord will evict me.

I have sent correspondence explaining my situation but am yet to hear back.

Any advice other mums??

You've really painted yourself in to a corner by resigning & not having an income to pay your rent. In all likelihood your LL will give you notice. Best advice is to speak to the council or Shelter. Good luck.

You need to speak to the Council but as you have not kept up with your rent and as they see it deliberately made yourself homeless by also resigning you will probably end up in a B&B or hostel. Sorry OP best to get onto it first thing Monday morning with the council and see what your options are.

Hope you get it sorted, can you not move back home until you are back on your feet?

Your rental payments should be included in the amount of UC that you receive. There are circumstances that payment can be made direct to the landlord - perhaps you should ask about this.

england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/universal_credit_housing_costs/when_universal_credit_can_be_paid_direct_to_a_landlord

I'm not a mum but be carefully of well meaning but incorrect advice blaming you. Resigning is absolutely not making yourself homeless. I agree to talk to shelter and the council though.
i also agree that you shouldn't intentionally make yourself homeless, which means that in practical terms if your landlord gives you notice, when the notice period expires that means you no longer have a tenancy but you still have to stay in possession of the property. Only when the landlord gets an order for possession of the property, you have to leave on the possession date. Leaving before that date would mean you made yourself homeless. Leaving after means you are disregarding the court's decision.

It sounds as though you are having a really tough time of things OP.

Do you know what the LHA limit is in your area for a one bedroom flat because if your rent is above that then unless you are working or someone else can help you with your rent payments then you're in an untenable situation.

lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/search.aspx

One thing you could do is ask the local council about a DHP, a discretionary housing payment. Councils have a pot of money for situations where people's circumstances mean their benefits don't cover their rent and it's designed to prevent homelessness. You'll need to prove your rent, your benefits and why you resigned from your job.

You probably haven’t done yourself any favours by resigning but what’s done is done. I’d give Shelter or CAB a ring and see if they can give you advice on what to do now. They will probably tell you to stay put until you’re evicted by the landlord, if you leave before then the council will class you as intentionally homeless. Are you getting all the benefits you’re entitled to? If you were working for the 2 years before getting sick you may be entitled to New Style contribution based ESA.

You should not have been signed off sick from work. You should have had a pregnancy risk assessment. If they were unable to give you suitable duties, you should have been sent home on full pay. You should not have resigned as you would still be on full pay now . Sorry I know it doesn’t help you but feel it’s important to add this to the thread. Do you have family you can stay with?