Arrears Advice
Problems Paying Your Rent?
Many of our tenants experience difficulties paying their rent at some point. If you find yourself in this situation please contact us straight away. Your Housing Officer will be able to give you advice and support to help you get back on track.
SMART Money Benefit Adviser
One of the best ways to avoid getting into rent arrears is to make sure that you are claiming all the benefits you are entitled to. We employ a SMART Money Benefit Adviser who will work with any tenant who is having difficulties paying their rent due to welfare benefit problems. The service is free, confidential and impartial.
You can contact our adviser - Lucy Egan on 029 20 675800.
or at - enquiries@hafod.org.uk
Claiming Housing Benefit
Anyone can make a claim for Housing Benefit. How much you are entitled to will depend on your individual circumstances. Usually, you will only be entitled to benefit from the Monday after you submit your claim so it is important to make your claim straight away. Your local Housing Benefit Office will give you more information. For further details see below.
www.bridgend.gov.uk
www.cardiff.gov.uk/c2c
www.merthyr.gov.uk
www.newport.gov.uk
www.rhondda-cynon-taf.gov.uk
www.torfaen.gov.uk
www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
Multiple Debts
Often tenants who are finding it hard to pay their rent have other debts and are struggling to keep on top of them all. If this applies to you then you can get help through organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau or Law Centres. Many of these organisations offer some or all of their services for free. For contact details see below.
You should always treat your rent as a priority debt; if you don't you could lose your home.
What happens if you don't pay your rent?
It is your responsibility to pay your rent, or make sure that it is being paid by Housing Benefit. We send rent statements every three months for you to check. You can get an up to date balance of your rent account by contacting us during office hours or by selecting the ‘seemydata' option.
If we do not receive payments we will write to you to let you know. If you are able to pay your arrears you should pay them immediately and let your Housing Officer know that you have done this. If you are unable to pay in full you should contact your Housing Officer to discuss your situation in more detail. Any agreements you make or actions you agree will be based on your circumstances and should be possible for you to abide by.
If you don't make an agreement and your arrears continue to rise then we will take legal action. This could result in you being evicted from your home and incurring court costs. You will still be liable for these debts even if you are no longer a tenant. Evicting tenants is a last resort and we will only do this if all other options have been exhausted.
You are far less likely to be evicted if you keep in regular contact with your Housing Officer and give us the opportunity to help you deal with your arrears.
Click here for an information leafelt
