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Housing
Housing advice and options : Housing advice
The Housing Advice department may be able to help with threatened homelessness in a variety of ways :
Mortgage problems
If you are having difficulty in paying your mortgage there may be ways to enable you to keep your home. We can look at income maximisation to enable you to afford your repayments, restructuring your mortgage and other debts to save you money. We can help you negotiate with your lender to try to prevent them from taking you to court. We can help you prepare for court hearings, and assist you in court to try to prevent your lender taking possession of the property. We can also delay possession action to enable you to make a voluntary sale in some circumstances.
Adur Council participates in the Mortgage Rescue Scheme and can assess your eligibility for the Scheme if this is appropriate for you. We can also advise about changes to the Benefit system and other measures (such as the Mortgage Arrears Protocol) which may assist you in these recessionary times.
Rent problems
If you are having difficulty paying your rent we may be able to help you stay in your home. We can advise you on your rights and help negotiate with your landlord. We can also help you prepare for court hearings and in some circumstances we can assist at the court hearing.
Relationship breakdown
It may be possible to keep your home after a relationship breakdown. You may have rights to occupy the house through a contract such as a tenancy or deed, or by statute such as under the Matrimonial Homes Act or the Children Act.
We can advise you on your rights and refer you to solicitors who can help you fight to stay in your home. We can advise on benefits you may be able to claim to enable you to stay in your home, even if you have lost your main household income.
Welfare benefits
If you are having difficulties in claiming welfare benefits, particularly Housing Benefit and Income Support Housing Costs, we can advise and assist you to ensure you are getting everything you are entitled to.
Debts
If you have multiple debts that are causing you difficulties in paying your rent or mortgage we can advise on the different ways of clearing your debt and assist or refer you to other agencies who can assist in helping to clear your debts.
Disrepair
If your property is in disrepair we can advise and refer you to other departments on how best to resolve these issues. We will advice you on your tenancy status and your rights to have certain repairs fixed. For more information on repairs see :
- Repairs - a guide for landlords and tenants - Communities and Local Government website (www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/repairsguide)
Harassment
If your landlord is harassing you we can advise on your rights and go through your options to help resolve any problems. We can help mediate between you and your landlord to sort out any problems. For more information on harassment see :
- My Landlord wants me out - protection against harassment and illegal eviction - Communities and Local Government website (www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/mylandlordwants)
Domestic Violence
If you are suffering Domestic Violence in your home we can advise and refer you to other agencies who can help. If you need to leave your property in an emergency because you are at risk of domestic violence you can call our homelessness section on (01273) 263204 or out of hours number (01273) 263000.
Tenancy Deposit Protection
If you signed a tenancy agreement or moved into your property after 6th April 2007, your landlord is required to protect your deposit in a government approved scheme. If s/he hasn’t, you may have additional rights to protect you from eviction, and you may be entitled to compensation. We can advise and assist with any matters relating to the Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme. For more information see:
- Tenancy Deposit Protection - DirectGov website (www.direct.gov.uk/en/tenancydeposit/index.htm)
- Tenancy Deposit Protection - Communities and Local Government website (www.communities.gov.uk/housing/rentingandletting/privaterenting/tenancydepositprotection/)
- Deposit protection schemes - Shelter England website (http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/paying_for_a_home/tenancy_deposits/deposit_protection_schemes)
