Rent and Money Advice
I am having problems with my rent. What should I do?
- Contact us on 0844 770 3500 immediately. Please explain the problems you are facing. It is important that you seek help before the debt gets too large.
- Respond to our letters, phone calls and visits. Please keep any appointments made to discuss your arrears. The earlier you make contact with us the sooner we can help you to resolve the problem.
- Either clear the rent arrears or reach an agreement to pay them off gradually.
If you let us know what is happening we can do our best to help and agree a regular repayment plan with you
What will Three Valleys Housing do?
- Do all we can to help you if you are having genuine difficulties. Our staff will offer advice and assistance. They will discuss with you the best way to clear the rent arrears debt.
- Make every effort to contact you by phone, home visit or office appointment in order to resolve a problem as early as possible.
- Follow the arrears procedure, if you do not reach an agreement with us or your arrears continue to rise.
- Take legal action against tenants who do not pay their rent or who fail to keep to agreements to repay the amounts they owe.
What is the Three Valleys Housing procedure on rent arrears?
We have a strict procedure to follow if an agreement is not reached with you to resolve the problem. We will normally take the following actions:
- 2 weeks arrears - we will send you a letter if you have not been in touch with us to explain.
- 4 weeks arrears - we will send you a letter asking you to contact us to discuss the arrears and reach a payment arrangement.
- 6 weeks arrears - we will send you a further letter and serve you with a Notice of Seeking Possession. This is the first stage of legal proceedings.
- 10 weeks arrears - if a satisfactory repayment arrangement has not been reached we will start legal proceedings in the County Court and will write to you to advise of this.
- At the Court Hearing - we will usually ask for a Postponed Possession Order on condition that you pay your rent plus an amount towards clearing the arrears. In certain cases we can ask for an immediate Possession Order.
- After Court - you must keep to the terms of the Possession Order.
- Eviction - if you breach the terms of the Possession Order or we get an immediate possession order, we will apply to the bailiffs to evict you from your home.
At any of the above stages you are strongly advised to contact our Area Rents staff for us to make an agreement to clear the arrears.
Please call us on 0844 770 3500 and don't risk losing your home.
Contact Numbers:
Three Valleys Housing 0844 770 3500
Erewash Borough Council Housing Benefit Section 0115 907 1010
Erewash Citizens Advice Bureau 0870 121 2028
National Debit Line 0808 808 4000
Consumer Credit Counselling Service 0800 138 1111
Pay Plan 0800 9177823
Derbyshire Housing Aid 01332 287850
Revised 13th May 2008 JR