With the cost of living on the rise many people may be struggling to keep a roof over their heads.
A fifth of households in the UK are privately rented and the costs can be staggering. The average rent's now £1,078 per month across the country.
But don't worry too much if you are one of those who are struggling. You will be glad to know that there are plenty of avenues to go down to get financial help.
READ MORE: New energy prices with British Gas, Scottish Power, EDF confirmed as millions receive new bills
Which put a handy guide together to help you cope better with rent costs. They also outline your eviction rights if you are facing being turfed out from your rental home.
Get help if you're struggling to pay rent
The cost of living is soaring, leaving many struggling to afford their bills. But there's help available if you find you can't pay your rent:
-
Check if you're eligible for universal credit. Do a 10-minute check with Which's Benefits Calculator.
-
Apply for a discretionary housing payment. If you receive the housing element of universal credit (or housing benefit), your council may be able to help with rent or a deposit for a new property. Shelter has full info on how to apply if you're in England.
- Apply for a charity grant. Some charities may offer help to people in your situation. You can search for grants available in your area via Turn2Us.
Speak to your landlord as soon as possible to let them know your situation
Don't ignore letters from your landlord. Let them know you're struggling and try to work out a repayment plan.
Do be mindful of your landlord's situation here too – if they have one extra property, and use the income from rent for living expenses, you paying less will have an impact on them too. When you talk to your landlord, be sensitive to their circumstances, and try to find a solution that suits you both.
Check if you're eligible for a council tax discount
Depending on who lives inside your rented property, you could be due a reduction off your council tax bill – anywhere from 25% off to being entirely 'disregarded for council tax purposes'. Discounts include if:
- You're a single person or live only with under-18s
- You're a student household or non-student living with students
- You're on a low income / get pension credit
Know your eviction rights
There's a strict process landlords need to follow to evict you. The first part is to serve you notice of eviction. But the notice they need to give you varies:
- In England and Wales, they usually need to give you two months' notice.
- In Scotland and Northern Ireland, they usually need to give you 12 weeks' notice.
If you've not left by the time the notice period is up, your landlord can then choose to start court proceedings (or tribunal proceedings in Scotland) to evict you.
If the court agrees you can be evicted, then your landlord can appoint bailiffs who can gain entry to the property to take possession of it, or to remove your belongings and change the locks. You could also be expected to pay towards your landlord's legal fees. However, it can take weeks or months for the eviction to happen after the court allows it.
What to do if your landlord tries to evict you
Even if your landlord applies to the court or tribunal for a hearing date, you won't have to leave your property immediately – it's still a process and, from hearing until actual eviction (if granted), can take weeks or even months. Each case is different, so if your landlord's trying to evict you, try:
- Shelter (in England, Scotland or Wales)
- Housing Advice NI
- Citizens Advice (not Northern Ireland, but it signposts to local NI community advice centres)
- Your local Law Centre (not Scotland)
All of these sites have lots of helpful information on what to do next, plus many have advisers who can speak with you about your rights and potentially even help in court.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
