Rent Arrears

Behind with your Rent? We can Help

Having trouble paying your rent? Don’t let things get worse . . . contact us now!

We understand the problems of getting by on a limited budget, so we’re ready to help you sort things out. You don’t have to pay off what you owe all at once — we can work out a plan for you to pay off the arrears in regular amounts you can afford.

We can check you’re getting the right benefits or you can check out your own entitlement to a range of welfare benefits on line at www.entitledto.co.uk. We can help fill out forms and chase up delayed benefit payments.

You can download a Housing and Council Tax Benefit application form here.

But you need to move fast! If you don’t tell us you’ve got a problem, or if you don’t keep to an agreement to pay off the debt, we will take legal action. And that could mean eviction.

Garage Tenancy Arrears

If you rent a garage tenancy from the Council and you are unable to meet your payments you could end up losing your garage tenancy.

If your account falls into arrears we will contact you and discuss with you any difficulties you may be having.

If your garage account falls into arrears and you do not make an arrangement to clear any outstanding arrears we may ask you to give up you garage. We will always discuss this with you first and serve a notice to quit giving you 7 days notice of any such intention.

Make an agreement to pay

How much extra could you afford to pay each week? Let’s make an agreement to pay off your rent arrears before things get worse.

Tell us how much you can pay each week, or to arrange to talk to someone about a repayment agreement.

You can make a repayment agreement online.

You can also contact us over the phone or call into your local Yourlink Office today. 

Falling behind with other payments?

Have you got other money worries too? There are expert debt advisers available at the Citizens Advice Bureau who are ready to help you sort out your priorities. They can contact the other people you owe — banks, catalogues, loan companies, door collectors and so on. They may be able to arrange for you to make smaller payments until you get back on top of things. Don’t let things get worse . . .  

Help with Debt?

Are you struggling with debt?

Finding it hard to make ends meet and keep your head above water?

There are several ways you can get the help you need through:

• The Citizens Advice Bureau
• The National Debtline
• The Community Legal Service, or a
• Free Welfare Benefit check

Citizens Advice Bureau

If you have debt problems your local citizens advice bureau can provide you with advice and assistance that could help you deal with the problem. The Citizens Advice Bureau can be found at the following addresses

Blyth Valley Citizens Advice Bureau,
The Eric Tolhurst Centre
3-13 Quay Road,
Blyth
NE24 2AS

Opening hours: Monday-Thursday 10am to 2pm.

Tel: 01670 367779
Fax: 01670 545942

Typetalk service prefix number 18001

Location Map of Blyth Valley Citizens Advice Bureau

Cramlington Citizens Advice Bureau.
The Gin Gan (Round House)
4 West Farm Court,
Cramlington,
NE23 9AX.

Opening hours Mon-Wednesday 10.30am to 2pm.

Location Map of Cramlington Citizens Advice Bureau

Check out the Citzens Advice Bureau Website here

National Debtline

If you need some free confidential independent advice why not contact the National Debt Helpline on 0808 808 4000 or visit the National Debtline website now.

Community Legal Service

Community Legal Service Direct is a new easy-to-use service that can help you deal with your legal problems. It provides free information, help and advice direct to the public on a range of common issues.

On the Community Legal Service website you can:

• Search for a quality local legal adviser or solicitor
• Ask a question or choose a common topic and be directed to the best advice websites
• See if you are eligible for legal aid funding by using our online calculator (see below)
• View and print independently-written legal information leaflets on a range of popular topics

As well as using this website you can:
Call 0845 345 4 345 for legal help and advice

Typetalk service prefix number 18001

• Get free initial advice from a qualified legal adviser about Welfare Benefits, Debt or Education between 9am and 5pm weekdays (if you call outside office hours, just leave a message and you will be called back)
• If you are eligible for Legal Aid you can get further free legal help with your case by phone and post
• Find quality local advice services for other types of problems
• Order legal information leaflets
• Listen to recorded messages about common legal problems 24 hours a day

All advice given is confidential and independent.

Calls to the helpline can be made for the price of a local phone call from anywhere in England and Wales. Mobile users should check the cost of calling with their network.

CLS Dealing with Debt Leaflet [PDF 395k]

CLS Welfare Benefit Advice Leaflet [PDF 290k]

Free Welfare Benefit Check

We can check to see if you are getting all the benefits you are entitled to. Don't delay call into a yourlink office or contact the Rents team and ask for your free welfare benefit check.

Check out your own entitlement to a range of welfare benefits on line at www.entitledto.co.uk.

Further Information

You can obtain further information  by contacting our Rents team:

	Write to: Blyth Valley Housing, Dinsdale House, Marine Terrace, Blyth, NE24 2LN.
	Telephone: (01670) 542121   Text us: 07950 08 09 08   Fax us: (01670) 542096
	RNID Typetalk service prefix number 18001
	Email: rents@blythvalley.gov.uk