Single parent family with rent arrears saved from eviction
CHAC Case study
Gary’s story
Six months before Gary’s tenancy with Canterbury City Council was due to expire, he discovered he and his family were at risk of eviction due to rent arrears.
Gary, a single parent, had a five-year secure flexible tenancy but he also had rent arrears totalling over £2,500.
The Council can legally refuse to renew a secure flexible tenancy for existing tenants with rent arrears. Therefore, in line with Section 107D of the of the Housing Act 1985, Gary was given six months’ notice in writing that the Council did not intend to grant him a new secure flexible tenancy. He was also given notice that the Council wanted to take back possession of the property where he lived with his two dependent sons.
How we helped Gary…
Gary had been informed that he had a right to request a review of the Council’s decision and got in touch with CHAC. We helped Gary submit a request within the required 21-day time limit. We also supported Gary by representing him at his online review hearing.
Our appeal was that Gary would clear all his rent arrears no later than two months before the end of his secure flexible tenancy. To be able to do this, Gary would not only pay his rent in full (covered by the housing costs element of his Universal Credit payment), but he would also pay an extra £50 rent each month. To cover the outstanding rent arrears, we had submitted applications to the Council for both a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP), and a Homelessness Prevention Grant.
Following the review hearing, the Council agreed not to evict Gary. The Council also agreed that, should he clear his rent arrears as proposed, he would be granted a secure tenancy.
The result…
Both our applications were successful, securing a DHP and a payment from the Council’s Homelessness Prevention Fund for Gary. This money, together with the regular rent payments Gary had promised at the review hearing, enabled him to clear all his rent arrears in time.
Gary and his two dependent sons were not evicted, and now he has been granted a secure tenancy by the Council.