Arrears

Wolverhampton Homes is committed to the recovery of all debts.

It is your responsibility to ensure your rent payments are made on time. Action will be taken if you fall into rent arrears, which could ultimately result in the loss of your home.

What should I do if I miss a payment?

If you fall into arrears please contact your Local Housing Office immediately or for general enquiries, use our online e-form (This is not to be used as an application form).

The Council will provide all possible help and advice to people having difficulty paying their rent.

This includes:

• Giving confidential help and advice
• Advising customers where they may be entitled to help with their rent and other welfare benefits
• Helping to complete Housing Benefit claim forms and ensuring that forms and supporting documents are passed to Housing Benefits
• Making arrangements with you to clear the arrears
• Helping customers who have difficult debt situations by providing money management advice or referral to specialist debt advice agencies.

What will happen if I fall behind with my rent?

The Council may use the following methods to recover rent arrears:

• Telephoning you, writing to you or calling at your home
• Arrears Task Force
• Debt Recovery Agents
• Asking the DWP to deduct money from your Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance to make payments direct to the Council
• Legal action which may result in losing your home.

If you have rent arrears you will not be allowed to apply to transfer to another Council property and if you are applying to buy your own home, this will be reviewed.

If you leave your Council home and owe rent arrears, court costs or recharged repair accounts, you will be barred from the Council's housing waiting list.

The Council continues to vigorously pursue tenants who have left their Council home with rent arrears and other debts.

Help and Advice

Please click on this link to be forwarded to Can I get Help and Advice on Rent.

KEEP YOUR RENT ACCOUNT PAID AND UP TO DATE

If you keep your rent account fully paid and up to date you could be entered into our FREE PRIZE DRAWS worth up to £3,000.  It's simple -

1. Keep your rent account fully paid and up to date, and we will enter you into our quarterly FREE PRIZE DRAW, worth up to £150!
2. Pay by Direct Debit and keep a clear rent account you will also be entered into a monthly FREE PRIZE DRAW, worth up to £150!  Increasing your chances to win.
3. Lucky winners will be able to choose from either;

• £150 paid into a Wolverhampton City Credit Union account set up in your name OR
• Home contents insurance for a year to the value of £150 (approximately £20,000 sum assured) OR
• £75 in shopping vouchers for the major retailer of your choice
  At the end of March 2008, we will hold a SUPER DRAW! And the lucky winner will choose either:
• £600 paid into a Wolverhampton City Credit Union account set up in your name OR
• £300 in shopping vouchers for the major retailer of your choice.
   
  Eligible customers will be entered into the draw at the end of each period.  Winners are chosen at random by an impartial selector.
   
  Full terms and conditions are available by clicking on the below icon and also on request from Wolverhampton Homes.

 

To be entered into either the Quarterly or Annual Prize Draws your rent account must be fully paid and up to date.  For extra monthly opportunity to win you must be a Direct Debit customer.
 
To discuss your rent account or any arrears issues please call Homes Direct on 01902 556789.