Partner has been up to all kinds and left me right in it

[Becki6191]

Hi

This is my first every try at writing a post so be gentle :)

My question really is if your partner leaves but his name is jointly on the tenancy - is there any legal type things I can do to make him pay towards the house??

Bit of background.

We where together for two years, were engaged, planning a wedding and trying for a baby (I already have a three year old son from a previous relationship). Everything was actually great - he was really attentive, supportive and my best friend, the four days before Christmas he walked out.

Since then I have found out that he had been stealing from me ( roughly £1500) he's left me with £2500 worth of debt and turns out he signed up on dating websites the day after we got engaged. To make things worse he has tried to chat up one of my friends (who obviously has told me) and he's called me everything under the sun. He's completely knocked my confidence and I'm so confused with it all. I can't see us getting back together after everything he's done but I don't want to lose my home.

His name is on the tenancy agreement and my landlord will not change/ give me a new tenancy until it runs out in September 2014. I've spoken to CAB and they've said because his name is on the tenancy I can't claim any help.

I'm in a right mess now :( does anyone have any advice??

I'm sorry you're in such a fix. I'm not sure what CAB meant about 'no help'. Do they mean Housing Benefit? Do you claim anything at the moment like WTC or do you earn too much? Are the debts in his name or joint names? Also (sorry for all the questions) how has he been stealing from you? Hacking your bank account?

Why don't you report him to the police

I went to cab and they said I couldn't claim any housing benefit or council tax benefit because of his name on the tenancy.

I'm not working at the minute so can't claim wtc.

The debt is in my name which i didn't know about :( regarding the money we where saving to buy the house we were renting (I'm still here with my son) I would put a few hundred in a tin (I know stupid right) that you had to open with a tin opener I'd give him the cash to put it and watch him do it but I opened it when he left and there was only £70 in it instead of £1500 :(

It's more about the rent really. Im about £200 short of covering all the rent and house hold bills :(

I claimed HB when my ex left me. The council saw his name on it and I explained he had left me and they said its fine.

I don't think there is much you can do about the theft of the cash tin, unfortunately. For the tenancy, does your landlord know the full story? Is he aware that, by not changing the name, he runs the risk of you defaulting on the rent?

Also, are you claiming everything you can as a single, unemployed person? WTC may not be available to you but, as a single person there is additional help. www.turn2us.org.uk has a very good benefits checker that might be useful

How has he managed to run up debts in your name with out your knowledge? Don't take responsibility for them if he's obtained credit fraudulently.

As a landlord, I wouldn't want to take his name off as you can chase two people if the rent doesn't get paid, rather than one. He is liable for the full rent and so are you so LL will want to keep him on because of that.

If you can afford it, then I would pay it. If you can't, I would start
Looking around for somewhere else and tell your LL you would like to end the tenancy early as you won't be able to afford it on your own. He might agree to it as the LL won't want to be worrying about you being unable to pay.

What is the debt that is in your name?

My XH's name has been on the tenancy the whole time I have claimed HB, the CAB are completely wrong about that. In my case I can't take his name off as my agency would have to do a new check and I've become a full time student since then so I just have to leave him on. HB have accepted my word and presumably if they wished to they could ask for proof that he lives elsewhere.

CAB are wrong about the HB, at least in our area.

My name wasn't even on the tenancy agreement and I was able to claim HB when my husband left.

The guidelines state that you don't even need a written tenancy agreement.

Becki going through very, very similar, so hugs to you xx

Look for others on here for advice, seems to be some lovely people on this site who can help xx

Blokes are shits (just my personal point of view right now!) I've been left in a world of debt, he's having it large after stashing money, cheating, setting up a new home with another (I want to say woman, but want to say slapper) and blaming his 'leave' on me (I'm Bipolar, apparently, who knew!!!??!!) x

I'm now a Lesbian nun - for the forseeable!!!

Re the tenancy, I may be wrong but if it's a standard assured short hold tenancy, even if it's for 12 months, it may be the case that you can serve notice to quit after 6 months, the notice period being 2 months. So you can be out in 8, as opposed to 12 months. Don't know if this is the case, or if it helps...

CAB are wrong. My ex's name was on our tenancy for awhile after we separated, and I had no problem claiming HB. I just explained that we were separated.

savoycabbage saved me a lot if writing. That's what I was going to write.

Definitely worth asking your LL if they can advertise the property in the hope of letting it out again so you can end the tenancy early, I've done this before but would just like to point out that the LL is under no obligation to do so and it will cost them money, time and inconvenience to do so so they may not be willing. I hope they are for your sake though.

Can't help you on the benefits side of things.

OP, as a Welfare Rights Advisor, please be reassured that you can claim full Housing benefit (subject to your local housing allowance), Council tax and Jobseeker's Allowance.

Just advise your local authority that he has left and if they wish to do a home inspection in order to clarify this, then let them do so.

Make sure that there are none of his personal possessions in the house & clearly mark any correspondence that may come as "no longer at this address" and stick it back in the post box.

If there are any utilities in his name, then get them changed to yours only.

You could even ask the Landlord to change the locks- not to 'keep' him out ( make sure there is a spare set for him within) but because you fear a break in......

Sorry, mine is only practical advice, but I do feel for you.

P.s ignore the last bit, but just a suggestion rather than actual advice. X

Lacoba66 - sorry, but 'full housing benefit' (subject to LHA) - is just that - bless the conservative party, we can not go to work- no childcare, not allowance, travel costs, nothing -

Have you signed the tenancy for 12 months?

Oops, I mentioned the LHA, because a lot of people are not aware that in the private sector rental market, if their rent is higher than the LHA, they think they're not getting 'full' HB. As for this governments policies..... That's a different topic, but I agree totally.

I claimed hb when exh name was on the tenancy

Hi

Just an update

My landlord has turned out to be my guardian angel he has dealt with my ex on my behalf and has got the rent off him and will be doing so until the tenancy ends :) thanks for all your advice xx

Fabulous, so glad you have a lovely LL.

When my Dh and I split up, I got HB even though his name was on the mortgage. I think you should arrange to see your Lone Parent Advisor at the Job Centre and get all your benefits sorted. You can fill in a claim online and they will then call you to arrange an appointment. You should be able to claim HB, CTB, IS/JSA, CB, CTC. You may also get vouchers for milk and fruit/veg as you have a child under 5 at home.

Call your utility providors, they sometimes have cheaper tarrifs for lone parents too and make sure you are getting the correct level of child maintenance from the father of your DC, you can check this ut at Child Maintenance Options online and this is not deducted from any other benefits.

As for your ex and the money he has spent, can you prove what went into the kitty (i.e. bank statement cash withdrawal etc as evidence). Do you know where he lives? You can put in a claim to the Smalls Claims Court via a Government Gateway site and try and retrieve the cash that way but first you need to try and recover the money by writing to him requesting the money or that he writes to you to arrane a payment schedule, give him some notice so you look reasonable and then submit the claim if he's not made contact or payed you back.

Really feel for you, i've been in a similar situation, bastards!

You can claim housing benefit regardless of his name being on the tenancy. Tell the council he has left and aplly straight away. You can also apply for DHP (discretionary housing payments) to cover any shortfall for a short term period of time. Your partner (and indeed you) remain 'jointly and severally' liable for the rent.

If you can't afford it even WITH housing benefit, speak to housing advisors/homeless department about an affordabilty assessment. If it genuinely unaffordable they may be able to help you either on the housing register orfinancially to find a cheaper rental.