UC47 rejected but tenant consistently in arrears?

UC47 rejected but tenant consistently in arrears?

8:17 AM, 24th April 2020, About 4 years ago 67

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I have just had a UC47 rejected as it states rent arrears are not in excess of two months rent. Does this mean the total tent of the property – or does this mean the total amount of rent due by the tenant towards her part of the rent – in other words her top ups? A distinct difference.

I want to challenge this as tenant is in arrears to the tune of over £1,000, but this has built up as a direct result of her negation of payment of the top ups to the rent which have been consistently underpaid since April 2019. If I have to wait till two months actual rent accrues first (that’s over £1700) then the period of arrears will span nearly 2 years!

Anyone had a similar issue – can I challenge on this basis as it is clearly unfair.

Many thanks

Reluctant Landlord

Editor’s Note:

.Gov Click here: If a tenant is having difficulty paying their rent, fill in the UC47 form to request payment of rent from a tenant’s Universal Credit.


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Comments

Mick Roberts

8:14 AM, 14th May 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Clint at 13/05/2020 - 17:13
It's terrible isn't it Clint, DWP not easily making this info available for us.

Bill is the man that gives me all my info.

I had my first UC claim this week the Housing Element HE part stop while running.

What I like about UC is once up and running and paid direct, if there's a problem with the claim like old Housing Benefit, our 'rent' got stopped.
However with UC if we being paid direct and the HE stops, normally tenants own money has been stopped and they quicker than Linford Christie get it sorted which then reinstates our HE.

However this one this week, the claimants money got reinstated, yet my HE didn't come in. I got that Fraud man I mentioned earlier quite high up, knows everyone low down and above. He took my comments on board and he was as shocked as me that we can't tell anyone when we have a problem.
Our only recourse is to complain which costs Taxpayer and UC and DWP millions a year in complaints.
He is shocked that we haven't got an email address to send anyone as he knows too the phone line is useless queue for an hour, get cut off, don't ring u back, monkeys with limited screen access give u wrong information. He said he's gonna ask too.
We just got to keep telling people this is one big reason why so many homeless, when our rent just stops, we can't tell anyone with common sense easily.

Gees it's 2020, HB have been giving us emails 15 years.
We are solving homeless. Work with us, don't fight us. Keep spreading the word please. We will eventually get Landlords online contact, I may have slowed down by then, but we need it for future Landlords and tenants. And me if tenants never move and I can't sell the houses.

Clint

11:29 AM, 14th May 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Clint at 13/05/2020 - 17:13
Second email address was meant to read lhc.crtteam1@dwp.gsi.gov.uk

SergeT

12:21 PM, 14th May 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by SergeT at 24/04/2020 - 11:11Quick update. 26th April I received the following email "We are in the process of looking at your request. Please contact us by phone or email to chase this up from 06/05/2020 onwards as we will then be able to give you an answer. Many thanks. Universal Credit"
I called them after 6th and was told someone would call me back shortly. Someone then called me back yesterday asking for my bank details and then I received another email stating my payments will be every 28th

Mick Roberts

12:28 PM, 14th May 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by SergeT at 14/05/2020 - 12:21
And apparently Iain Duncan Smith said in 2013 Not one Landlord will be paid directly.
Those at the top have not got a clue about life at the bottom.

Clint

13:12 PM, 14th May 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 14/05/2020 - 08:14
Surprise, surprise, I received an email following the one I received in my earlier thread saying, they have now set up payment to me for the tenant they refused to pay for earlier. No explanation was given such as we have now received further documentation from you or anything of that sort.
I sent email to my MP & to the Jobcentre Plus Service Leader, so one has worked. Do not know which one.
I take it that when you wrote "....which then reinstates our HE" you meant that reinstates HE payments to the tenant.
I still want to complain to Stage 1 as I have lost 3 months’ rent for each of two tenants including this current last one in applying for the rents to be paid to me. These two tenants initially had ongoing payments made out to me.
I am still no twiser as to what the Stage 1 email address for my area is. If Bill is aware of the new email address, I would appreciate it if he could provide me with it and I am also quite happy to pay for and to be a member of his website. I have already applied on the website but have had no response. Will do it again.
We have to all act collectively and perhaps have one of the main bodies acting as an "Alliance Complaints UC Committee" or something of that sort.
I have now compiled a 5 stage plan for complaints, with three different establishments to complain to at the initial stage, so now intend to complain immediately after non-payment of rent for rent that is due to be paid to me.
Hopefully, I will get the email for Stage 1 soon

Mick Roberts

15:07 PM, 14th May 2020, About 4 years ago

There's a couple of threads on 118 at the moment talking about UC & UC47 and arrears & tenants not paying & Coronavirus etc., so I'll put this on both threads.

Very good video on here Bill Irvine talking about APA's & getting direct payment when tenants aren't handing their UC 'rent' etc.
And Benefit cap & rent increases to the new 1 April 2020 LHA UC HB Benefit Housing Element HE rates, which could massively help some Landlords & tenants.
And the complaints process which isn't working.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKYfEBYDX8o&feature=youtu.be

And the recent rules on securing direct payment of the UC 'rent', APA
https://universalcreditadvice.com/articles/how-can-prs-landlords-letting-agents-secure-direct-payments-of-universal-credit/

Clint

15:15 PM, 14th May 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 14/05/2020 - 15:07
Thanks so much Mick.

Bill irvine

15:26 PM, 14th May 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Clint at 14/05/2020 - 11:29Hi Clint
Apologies for not getting back to you sooner but I only look at website blogs when I'm asked to, or I've responded earlier to a thread. Mick Roberts is a client and mentioned his contributions and some unanswered questions.
Nowadays, we try and make the 1st Stage Complaint via the online complaints system https://makeacomplaint.dwp.gov.uk/ which usually produces a quick acknowledgement, if not response. Where we already know the tenant's Work Coach or Case Manager we will write to them instead. Dealing with staff close to the everyday action can often produce a quick & positive result.
The COVID crisis has forced DWP to redeploy staff from everyday duties, like "complaints & resolutions", to claim processing, so timescales for responses may vary significantly. If the case is really urgent, escalate straight to the 2nd stage email (correspondence@dwp.gov.uk) and ask them to forward, as a matter of urgency, to appropriate manager.
In terms of joining our website, the process is usually quick and easy. If you've registered we normally confirm to you within a day or two and issue an invoice at the same time. Having just checked, we have one member awaiting confirmation. That may well be you. If it is, you should hear later today.
Bill

Clint

16:01 PM, 14th May 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Bill irvine at 14/05/2020 - 15:26
Thanks for the info Bill. I did come across https://makeacomplaint.dwp.gov.uk/ but assumed it was for tenants' complaints only.

Bill irvine

16:16 PM, 14th May 2020, About 4 years ago

Hi Clint
I'm not surprised you came to that conclusion. What may surprise you is DWP's Complaints Procedure doesn't acknowledge landlords or letting agents as clients. Historically DWP only dealt with "claimants" and so that's how they refer to complainants, completely overlooking the landlord & Agents rights to complain about APA Mismanagement. DWP's Directorate acknowledged this right in 2015 in my exchanges with Neil Couling and Mike Baker his depute, at that time. Despite this, the intial questions asked in the online form, are clearly designed for "claimants". You just need to clarify its you who is complaining at the outset and explain why, in the space provided.
Bill

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