If you are struggling to pay your rent please contact your Tenancy Sustainment Officer.
Tel 01827 709514 or Email incometeam@tamworth.gov.uk  they will work with you to help you sustain your tenancy.

If you fail to engage then very much as a last resort the Council will submit your case to the Nuneaton County Court that could lead to the Judge ending your tenancy. Everyone living at the property would also have to leave the property. Your tenancy sustainment officer can reach an agreement with you whereby you pay off your arrears at an affordable amount each week/ month. They can help you apply for help towards your rent such as a discretionary housing payment or a support fund payment, and can refer you to other organisations such as the Tamworth Advice Centre that can offer specialist advice on a range of issues including benefits, debt advice, budgeting, grants, energy advice bankruptcy, debt relief orders, and breathing space applications. 

The Council fully appreciates that the pandemic and the increase in the cost of living has created real financial challenges for many households and the Council understands this and is more than willing to work with any of its tenants to try to reach a solution that is both fair and achievable for all parties. The worst thing any household can do is to ignore the problem and fail to contact the council, the problem will only get worse and your home will be at risk if the case does have to progress to court.  

Contact Details of the Tenancy sustainment officers and assistants who work for the Income Team 

Contact: Tel: 01827 709514. Email: IncomeTeam@tamworth.gov.uk 
Available Monday to Friday from 8:45am to 5:10pm, with exception of Friday when we close at 5:05pm (closed bank holidays).

• View/download the Paying Your Rent leaflet (pdf)
• Citizens Advice (Tamworth Advice Centre)

Rent Free Weeks for Council Tenants of Tamworth Borough Council​

Weeks commencing Monday

• 22 August 2022
• 19 December 2022
• 20 March 2023
• 27 March 2023

Paying your rent is part of your tenancy agreement. It should take priority over other debts as you could lose your home if you do not pay your rent.

• Pay your rent online
• Take a look at ways to pay your rent
• Planning, budgeting and rental costs
• Download a direct Debit form

Your tenancy requires you to pay your rent weekly in advance on a Monday. Alternative arrangements for the payment of your rent can be agreed with your tenancy sustainment officer of advance payments every fortnight, four-weekly or monthly. If you are joint tenants, you are both responsible for paying the full rent. This is known as being jointly and severally liable. The Council does not enter into discussions about which joint tenant is paying the rent.

LATEST INFORMATION AND ADVICE ABOUT CORONAVIRUS FROM THE GOVERNMENT

• www.gov.uk/coronavirus - covers issues about testing and vaccinations homelessness mental health, employment, business support and education.

Our commitments to you

• Provide you with a unique rent account number and a range of different ways you can pay your rent
• Provide help and advice to help you keep your tenancy.
• Help you to complete forms
• Contact you promptly if you fall into rent arrears, and to try to reach a mutually acceptable agreement that is affordable and fair. 
• Send out quarterly rent statements and provide you with an online tenants portal from which you can see your up to date balance.
• Formal legal action will only be taken as a last resort.

If you are having problems paying your rent contact us immediately. Do not wait until you receive an arrears letter or ignore letters we send you.
Contact: Tel: 01827 709514. Email: IncomeTeam@tamworth.gov.uk

Make an arrangement with us to pay what you can afford, in order to reduce your arrears and stick to it. By staying in contact with your tenancy sustainment officer we can work together as team.

What will happen if you do not pay your rent:

• Stage 1: Missed rent payments / paying less than you should we will contact you. If you do not clear  your arrears or they increase still further, we will contact you again asking you to clear them and if you engage with us try to reach a mutually acceptable agreement. We will offer you advice, and with your prior agreement if applicable refer you to other debt agencies and / or offer you advice.  

• Stage 2: If rent remains unpaid, you will receive a notice of intention to seek possession giving you a final warning that we may take you to court. This gives the Council the legal right to apply for a summons of possession at any time after 4 weeks and up to one year after its been served on you.

• Stage 3: Formal Court hearing usually held at the Nuneaton County Court. Judge decides what court order to make after hearing evidence from both the landlord and tenant. Tenants can ask a Court based duty solicitor to represent them at the hearing free of charge. If the Judge is satisfied that the tenant has offered a suitable repayment plan, then likely to order a suspended possession order on terms, and tenant and family members can remain living at the property as long as the terms are complied with until all arrears are cleared. The Council will ask the courts permission to reclaim court costs currently £355 from the tenant. Other court orders can be made ranging from an adjournment to immediate possession dependant on the facts of the case. Tenants are strongly advised to fully engage with the landlord during the period prior to the court hearing.

• Stage 4 If you fail to comply with the terms of the court order made at stage 3, and don’t offer a satisfactory explanation to the Council why they haven’t, or don’t engage with the Council at all, then the Council will apply for a warrant of possession that will lead to the court instructing court bailiffs to repossess the property at a specific date and time. Tenants will receive a minimum of 14 days’ prior notice of the repossession. If you do nothing prior to the date of the repossession, the bailiffs will repossess the property. You and any family members living at the property will have to vacate the property, clear all your furniture and effects and all external door locks changed keys for which will be retained by the Council. Prior to the date of the repossession tenants can apply at the court office between 10am -2.00pm for a warrant suspension hearing which will lead to a court hearing held prior to the date of possession at which the tenant can present evidence via a duty solicitor to the Judge asking that they be allowed to remain living at the property. Tenants are strongly advised to seek the help and advice from the Tamworth advice centre or a solicitor. Unless on benefits the tenant will have to pay the court costs which are in the region of £60 for the hearing and must attend in person. The Judge then decides whether to allow the tenant to remain or that the planned repossession proceeds.  

• Stage 5 You will have to make alternative arrangements for you and your families future housing needs. You can contact the housing advice and homeless teams who may be able to assist you on a temporary basis. It is likely that you will be found intentionally homeless as the reason you were evicted was due to the fact that you breached the terms of your tenancy agreement and hence the Council will have either no or a very limited further duty of care for your housing. Every case is considered on its own merits. You will not be permitted to return to the property from which you have just been evicted.

Note

• The above is a brief summary of the process that is followed. The process is complex and your tenancy sustainment officer can offer you more detailed advice as to where you are in the process and more importantly what action you can take to prevent you from reaching stage 5 and being evicted from your home.
• Most rental properties in the private sector will have higher rents and more limited security of tenure as most are let on assured short hold tenancies that last 6 or 12 months. You are strongly advised to retain your Council tenancy by complying with the terms of your tenancy agreement, by paying your rent, not acting in an anti-social manner, and following all the terms of your tenancy, such as not damaging the property and using the property as your main and principle home. For full details refer to your tenancy agreement, and if you have any further questions do contact the income team or the Estate management team on 01827 709514.  

Money Navigator Tool

For anyone who wants free help and advice regarding their finances can use the online money navigator tool web site shown below. It provides up to date guidance based upon individual circumstances.

There is information on:

• what issues individuals need to deal with first
• ways of staying on top of bills
• how to find extra support
• where to get extra help

Click on the link below to access the tool.

www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/money-troubles/coronavirus/money-navigator-tool
 

Help with energy costs