Rent Arrears
The consequences of getting into rent arrears are serious. This section explains what happens if you get into rent arrears, what can result if you do not take action to clear your arrears and how you can get help from the Trust.
What happens if I fall behind with my payments?
If you are falling behind with payments and having money difficulties (link to money advice tab) please contact the Rents team on 01923 209111. Our staff will firstly try to help you sort your financial situation. It is important that you get help before your debt gets out of control. So as soon as you get into difficulties with paying your rent, or think you might, you must contact us.
It is much better to let us know than keeping the problem to yourself. We are not here to judge your situation, but to point you in the right direction to get help. Above all we are here to help you keep your home!
If you do not get in contact with the rents team, we will write to you asking you to pay the outstanding amount. Please do not ignore this letter and let a large debt build up that you cannot pay.
We will do all we can to help you if you are having difficulty. However, if you continue ignore attempts to contact you or break an agreement to pay your rent and arrears; you could be at risk of losing your home. Please work with us to help prevent this from happening.
As a not-for-profit organisation we rely on all rent to be collected to provide our tenants with a full range of housing services. Therefore we need to be fair to all tenants and provide value for money, which is why we must make every effort to collect money owing to us.
What help can I get?
You may be able to get help with your rent through Housing Benefit. Click here to use our Benefit Calculator.
To find out more you will need to apply to your local Council’s Housing Benefit department.
You will be asked to fill out an application form and supply proof of the information you provide, for example, ID, proof of address and income.
To apply for Housing Benefit call 01923 226400 if you live in Watford or call 01923 776611 if you live in Three Rivers.
Why you should keep up with your rent payments
- If you do not pay your rent, we could take legal action against you and you could lose your home.
- We may also get the court to take the money you owe out of your wages or state benefits. If we do take you to court because you owe rent, you may find it difficult to get credit in the future.
- We will use bailiffs to get back money you owe if you move to another part of the country or abroad.
- We will not consider you for a transfer if you owe rent.
- We will not approve a ‘right to acquire’ application if you owe rent.
- If you have a history of falling behind with your rent payments and you move to a different area where we have no property, other landlords may not consider you for housing.
- If you are evicted because you owe us rent, a local council may refuse to house you because they will consider you ‘intentionally homeless’.
Please remember – we do not want to evict anyone. We want to avoid legal action and can do so if you make and keep to an agreement to pay rent you owe. So, come and talk to our staff as soon as you think you may get into difficulty with money.
Will I Be Evicted If I Do Not Pay My Rent?
If you fall into serious rent arrears and do not comply with the agreement to pay you risk being evicted. Evictions may also be carried out for severe cases of anti-social behaviour and racial harassment
