Rent Changes
Rent changes usually take place in April every year. Rent can go up or down depending on Government guidelines.
If you are living in a property owned or managed by Tamil Housing, you will receive a notification from us at least four weeks in advance (which is the minimum notice period required) about any rent increase or decrease charges for the forthcoming financial year.
If you are claiming Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, you must inform the Housing Benefit department of your local Council about your rent change without delay to avoid falling into rent arrears.
Rent Arrears
Rent arrears can lead to you losing your home. Rent arrears can accumulate for any number of reasons. Tamil Housing adopts a firm but fair approach when a resident fall into arrears. We will also take into account of equality considerations including vulnerability and language. However, it is the residents responsibility to ensure that the rent is paid in accordance with the provisions of their tenancy agreement.
We keep residents updated with their rent account by issuing six monthly rent statements to all residents. Residents can also request for rent statements or can text BAL to 07984355550 to receive a mini rent statement via SMS.
When a resident falls into arrears, your Housing Officer will be prompted to proceed with our arrears actions as per our arrears policy. Our arrears actions consist of 6 stages:
- AR1 – Your housing officer will contact you to discuss your arrears and will agree on a payment plan. This will be confirmed in writing via arrears letter one (AR1) or through text message.
- AR2 – If your arrears has increased since AR1 stage, then your housing officer will check to see whether your Housing Benefit (HB) or Universal Credit (UC) (if any) is due. If HB or UC is not due, then you will be contacted again for an update and arrears letter 2 (AR2) will be issued in writing or through text message.
- AR3 – This stage is only reached if you have fallen in to a significant amount of arrears. Your Housing Officer will contact you to discuss this with you and try to assist as much as they can as well as advising on legal action and come to a repayment plan. Your agreement with your housing officer will be confirmed in writing via arrears letter 3 (AR3) and through text message.
- Notice Of Seeking Possession – If your housing officer has exhausted the above stages, then Tamil Housing will issue you with a Notice of Seeking Possession (NOSP) under section 8, 10 and/or 11 of the Housing Act xxx. This NOSP will state the breaches in your tenancy failure to pay your rent in accordance with your tenancy agreement. NOSP is the first step before proceeding with court application. The NOSP will also give you four weeks in which you must contact your housing officer to either agree on a payment plan or clear your arrears in full. If this is breached, then we will go ahead with court proceedings.
- Court Proceedings – We will only go ahead with court proceedings if you have reached 8 or more weeks arrears and can result in either of the following; Suspended Possession order or Outright Possession order. Suspended Possession Order allows you to come to an agreement plan in court with Tamil Housing. This judgement will be issued to you through the court and must be adhered to. If this is breached, then Tamil Housing are able to go back to the court to proceed with Eviction. Outright Possession order allows the court to give a judgement with a specific date, of which you must vacate the property. If you do not vacate the property by the date stated in the judgement, then Tamil Housing can go back to court to proceed with eviction.
- Eviction – Eviction will only be sought if you breach either of the judgements issued by the court. You would be presented with an eviction date by the court and by Tamil Housing via writing.
Click here for the arrears policy and procedure.
For advice on arrears and eviction, please contact:
- Shelter – 08088004444 or www.shelter.org.uk
- Citizens Advice – www.citizensadvice.org.uk