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Council Housing - what to do if you cannot pay your rent

This page explains how the Council deals with tenants who fall behind with their rent and what can be done to avoid this.

Please note that if you are have an  Introductory Tenancy and you are still in the first year of your tenancy with the Council then different rules apply - see below.

We are reliant upon rental income to pay for the services that we deliver to our council tenants. If rent arrears increase it has a definite effect on the services that tenants receive. For that reason it is critical that rent arrears levels are kept to a minimum.

We do understand that at times people will have financial problems and may permit repayment of those arrears by instalments. However, it is most important that a person falling into arrears should make contact with the Housing Rents Section as soon as they experience any difficulties.

We can only assist you in solving the problem if you contact us to let us know what the problem is. If arrears continue to rise, and we can see no prospect of that changing, then we have to consider more serious action which could lead to you losing your home. At court we will normally ask for what is termed a 'Postponed Possession Order'. This means that the court orders the tenant to start paying the rent and an amount per week, fortnight, or month off of the arrears and provided it is followed the tenant can reamin in the property.

Tenants are encouraged to attend court, should they be summonsed. Even at this stage we would much prefer to have the problem of the arrears resolved rather than have the tenant evicted.

If a person has a Postponed Court Order against them westill need to know if the tenant encounters any difficulty in making payments.  We may be able to refer the tenant for money advice, rather than just seeking to evict.

Regrettably, there does come a time when we appear to be faced with no alternative but to evict a tenant. This is very much a last resort and it is not action taken lightly.

If a person is evicted they do have a right to make an appeal to us as being homeless. Whilst every case has to be dealt  with on its merits we may well argue that if a person had the ability to pay the rent, but did not do so, then they could be considered to be 'intentionally homeless' and we would not have an obligation to re-house them. This would apply even where there are children in the household.

For this reason it is very important that tenants deal with arrears issues at an early stage and the Housing Rents Section are always happy to give help and advice at any time.

Dealing with rent arrears

Paying your rent 

 

Introductory Tenancies

If you are an introductory tenant then different rules apply if you fall into arrears or you break any other clauses in your tenancy agreement. An introductory tenancy is a one-year trial council tenancy. It gives you most of the same rights as a secure council tenancy but you can be evicted much more easily.

If the Council has to serve you with a Notice of Seeking Possession (for breaking any of the clauses of your tenancy agreement) then at any time if you do not clear your arrears and the matter goes to Court then the Court must grant the council possession of your home, provided the Council has followed the correct procedure. This means that you will lose your home.

As long as you don't break your tenancy agreement while you are an introductory tenant, you will automatically become a secured tenant.

To access help as soon as you experience difficulties

Contact the Rents Team

By telephone

01746 713208

By email

housing@bridgnorth-dc.gov.uk

By letter 

The Rents Team
Housing & Property Services
Bridgnorth District Council
Westgate
Bridgnorth
Wv16 5AA