Help with tenant rent arrears on Universal Credit?

Help with tenant rent arrears on Universal Credit?

10:36 AM, 16th March 2023, About 2 years ago 12

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Hello, I have a tenant with six months rent arrears on Universal Credit. I have filled in an online form for direct payment from UC but this was rejected.

These were the possible reasons they gave for the rejection but they did not tell me specifically:
1) tenant not on UC or housing benefit
2) wrong address
3) not in arrears

All of the above are not true so I made a call to UC but they said they need the permission from the tenant to look into the account.

The tenant is avoiding any contact with me due to the fact she’s £3,360 in rent arrears. The UC system is flawed because if the tenant was speaking to me she wouldn’t be in arrears as I would have tried to work something out.

Can anyone from Property118 help as all authorities can’t discuss without her permission?

All the while she’s keeping rent money whilst waiting for eviction which is another four months away.

I have even had legal help but was told this would be difficult to get the money back if she’s hasn’t got assets. I wish someone would see how this is affecting landlords as well as tenants.

Really need clear direction because I feel our system can’t allow this blatant stealing of tax payers money.

Many thanks,

Nick


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Reluctant Landlord

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13:29 PM, 8th April 2024, About 8 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Clint at 16/03/2023 - 12:29
I'd love to know how on earth you get a guarantor for a tenant on benefits! A home owning UK resident willing that you have referenced checked????

Clint

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16:37 PM, 8th April 2024, About 8 months ago

Quite easily actually. Each time I advertise, I get HB tenants phoning on a daily basis and after I find out they are on benefits, I ask them if they have a guarantor and most don't, but many do.

In order to let the property to the tenant I just need few details about the guarantor the main being proof of ownership & payslips. Often even if they are not working, they could be a guarantor as if, the tenant defaults, one could get a charge on their property.

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