if you are having trouble paying your bills

How to stop debts from building up

If for any reason you find yourself having trouble paying any of your bills, such as rent, don't ignore the problem. If you get into rent arrears you could end up losing your home.

Please talk to us straight away so we can help before it gets too late.

Your Income Collection Officer will be able to give you advice if you find yourself struggling to pay your rent. You might be entitled to housing benefit.

We can also refer you to an independent Citizens Advice Bureau who will help you to improve your financial situation and give you advice about any benefits you can claim. For instance if you are a pensioner, disabled or a registered carer there is extra money available to help with things such as heating bills.

Contact your Income Collection Officer for advice on 0800 195 3404 or 020 8489 5611 (free from a mobile phone) or email incomecollectionteam@homesforharingey.org

Remember:

• Don’t ignore the problem and wait for it to go away – it won’t. Arrears increase quickly. By missing just one payment, it already makes arrears doubly hard to clear. Take action before arrears get out of hand.
• Don’t ignore any letters we send you. Ignoring your rent arrears could cost you your home.
• If you think there has been a mistake, just tell us. We are always happy to check your account and sort out any problems, for example if we haven’t received one of your payments.
• If you are waiting for your housing benefit, tell us. We will not usually take legal action against you if we know you are waiting for a claim to be sorted out - provided you are making agreed payments.

Download our leaflet 'Having trouble paying your bills?'

Where else can I get help and advice?

Our Income Collection Officers can help put you in touch with the Citizens Advice Bureau, who offer free independent financial advice. Take a look at their website for some more tips on managing your money:

www.adviceguide.org.uk

The government's Directgov website also offers up to date financial advice, including a benefits calculator, which can help you find out if you might be entitled to extra help:

Directgov benefits calculator

The Financial Services Authority also offer advice. Take a look at their Money Made Clear website.

Beware

It may seem tempting to borrow more money to cover your existing debts, sometimes known as consolidating your debts. It’s usually not a good idea to borrow more money to repay your existing debts as this can make things worse and cost more in the long-run.

If you do take out a consolidation loan, be careful you don't end up with more debt than you started with. Make sure you don't borrow from a loan shark (someone who lends money without a license. This is illegal). You can report loan sharks on a confidential helpline at: 0300 555 2222.

Take a look at the Citizen Advice Bureau's factsheet on consolidating debts.

What happens if I am in rent arrears?

If you are in rent arrears, you will not be able to transfer to another council property, unless you have maintained an agreement to reduce your arrears for at least six months before an offer of accommodation is made. There are also some further restrictions, for example you cannot:

• be transferred to certain housing associations, as they will not take tenants with arrears
• make a mutual exchange
• get a transferable discount grant. As well as these restrictions, we will also chase you for payment of the arrears.