What will happen if I don't pay my rent?

If you have problems with paying your rent, contact our Legal Services team on 0800 035 22 11, as soon as possible. We will offer you confidential help, advice and support if you are experiencing financial difficulties.

If you fail to contact us about your arrears, we will notify you by letter and visit your property.

If you fail to make any payments, or fail to contact our Legal Services team when asked, we will serve
you a Notice of Seeking Possession. This notice is the first step in legal proceedings, which may allow us to take possession of your home.

If you continue to ignore our attempts to contact you, or fail to make any payments, we will make an application to your local county court.

A county court judge can make a number of rulings, including an order against you for possession of your home.

If you do not make any effort to reduce your outstanding arrears following the court order, you will be evicted from your home for breach of tenancy.

How we can help you

Irwell Valley can help by offering you advice on benefit entitlement and claiming housing benefit.

We can make agreements with you to reduce your outstanding arrears by paying a little extra each week until your arrears are cleared in full.

We can visit you in your property to discuss any problems, help you to complete any relevant paperwork and ensure that supporting documentation is processed correctly.

 

Legal Services and Lettings team members can verify your Housing Benefit claim form for the following local authorities; Salford, Manchester, Tameside, Trafford, Bolton.

 

The Legal Service and Lettings team members can also complete a Housing Benefit calculation (Ferret) to determine your estimated HB entitlement.

 

We can refer you to an external agency for specialist debt/money advice such as Citizens Advice Bureau or a Welfare Rights agency.

Will I still qualify for Gold Service if I am in arrears?

Yes, as long as you make a repayment agreement to reduce your arrears and maintain this agreement for 12 consecutive weeks.

If you do not make any attempt to reduce your arrears, you will be suspended from Gold Service and will no longer be entitled to the benefits offered.

What to do if you think we’ve made a mistake

If you think we have made a mistake with your rent account, contact our Legal Services team immediately on 0800 035 22 11. We will go through your payments and correct any errors. We will then send you a Rent Account Statement showing any amendments we have made.

What if I am on Housing Benefit and don't keep up with my rent?

Although you may not pay rent directly to Irwell Valley, you are still responsible for ensuring your rent is paid. If your local authority has not made payments to us, you need to contact them and sort your claim.

If you fail to pursue your claim we will consider taking legal action against you for possession of your home and you will be suspended from receiving any Gold Service benefits.