I've been claiming ESA since may and had my assessment two weeks ago. They made a decision on the 22/04/2015 that I be placed into the Support Group option and was told I be backdated from 3rd August 2014 to present. I've asked them 4 times how this is worked out, they all said my back pay calculation will be done tomorrow or latest monday and once this has been done it is then sent off to the social fund department for authorisation for payment. I know I have £1000 debt with them which I'm currently paying back from my ESA at £28.88 every two weeks. My Question, Is it normal practice for them to take this amount from my back payment even though I have a arrangement with them which has been in place for over 6 month's. I can't seem to get any answer's from them, only that deductions from my back pay will only be for any over payment's, and yet some are saying if you have social fund debt, but you won't be affected if you have a arrangement. Thanks

I moved into my property in Jan 2013 on a Assured Shorthold Tenancy, The day i moved in the Landlord did a inspection. 2 weeks later he wanted to complete another inspection of the property and i agreed. I took the day off work and waiting in for him to visit. He called 20 minutes before he was due and he said he has to cancel. So another week passed with no contact, he then asked to do another inspection and i said that i could not take anymore days off work and requested an inspection to be done on my day off. He called me to inform me that he needs to send a gas safe engineer to visit and complete a gas Safe Certificate. At the time my brother was staying for the weekend and at the time i informed the landlord i was not going to be at the property and he said could he let himself in and the engineer if i werent home. I said no. He then tried letting him self in and my brother was anxious as they were 4 of them, and he heard the landlord say i need to do a inspection anyway. He didnt gain access to the property and from there ignored all communications from me. The Electric meter was not working correctly, which he has failed to address and fix to date. I got advice and it has been classed as harassment from the landlord. A month later, i feel into rent arrears and he served me with a statutory demand notice and i was advised from a solictor that he cant threatened such notice without the intention of carrying it out. He then issued a Possession Order (without firstly providing a Section 21 notice). ^^This is what the landlord has said about the notice. I'm due to move out tomorrow and i need advice please. If anyone can help me with a template to send him that would be appreciated. Below is what the last communication recieved by the landlord.

^^^ that its triggered it off again, that's why i couldn't leave the flat for 4 weeks, had to have drugs to help me sleep and not feel so anxious. The though of being on Benefits had result me in suicded thoughts. That landlord is just the Landlord from Hell. The rent arrears is only £197.50

hi stu007, Thanks for replying, the Section 21 notice runs out on the 5th march 2013. I have moved out yesterday. Shelter advised that the Section 21 notice is above board and he is correctly following the laws on that side. But they did say he seems to be trying to cut corners in terms of seeking damages and rent arrears. I have no problem paying back what i owe. We were on good terms mostly. I do have a inventory. At the beginning of the contract, we did agree montly payments, but becuase i dont want to hold large amounts of cash in my property, he even suggested and agreed to weekly payments ( have texts messages/Emails proving this). I did advising him off my rights and when i ask him to carry out the repairs, i was in contact with the local council, they said they can act on my behalf but it will most likely result as a eviction notice being issued as landlords would rather evict a tenant then pay for repairs. Shelter said that sadly, when it comes down to repairs that there is not enough protection for the tenant when it comes to evictions. As it is easier to evict a tenant and most likely in some occasions when compared to the cost to complete the repairs. But he used to moan about he had no money, even showed me his bank balance which showed he was -£5000 overdrawn, I did feel sorry for him but if i couldn't pay my rent because i was poor that wouldn't be an excuse for him so its the same rule to him. The council said, wait and see what happens, if the worst comes to worst, withheld the rent payments until he completes the repairs, as stated in the tenancy. Which he didn't. and when i left yesterday still the repairs was awaiting repairs. It even took him 3 weeks to get someone out to deal with the drainage system, which caused havoc, couldn't wash dishes, couldn't put the washing machine one, as all the waste was coming up in the bath, so couldn't bath regularly, but when this happened i still paid the rent onetime, I have a Police Report of the incident, plus tons of emails and loads of photos and even a newsletter he sent out to all of his tenants that my flat would be the first flat to have a new door as my door was worst of the worst. Proving my facts with evidence is not a problem. Its weather i can claim against him for losses to earnings as he was the prime reason why i had to quit my job. I already suffer from Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder and it was under control thanks to a great GP, but after the incident with the landlord

I hope someone might be able to help me here, I will explain but try to keep it simple. I moved into a 1 bed flat in August 2012 and this was for a 6 month tenancy, it was a shorthold assured tenancy. I paid one months rent upfront, he didnt want a deposit. The second month came and i spoke to my landlord if it would be acceptable to make weekly rental payments as i get paid weekly where i work. He agreed. I went on holiday for 2 weeks in september, paid a few weeks before i went and when i got back mistakenly only paid 1 weeks rent. as time went by, the landlord noticed we were 2 weeks out of sych with the rent, not a problem, i will arrange a payment plan to bring the 2 weeks arrears down. Anyway, our front door was a wooden one, just like the one you would use for a bedroom door, well that was badly effected with mold, basically he painted over it after the last tenants left, i didn't see any problems when i viewed the property and when winter hit the mold was coming through the paint, i do suffer from asthma as a result have a weaker immune system so i had a episode of a chest infection. As it was winter the door was sticking that some times when trying to leave work i couldnt open the door that eventually over a course of a week or two the door handle came off. I did report the problem to him about the door about 2 weeks before the handle fell off. Anyway he said he get someone out to fix the door, the person came out to look at the door and said straight away that the landlord told him to just put a fresh of glossy white paint over but he said the door was that bad that only a new door would fix the problem. So the landlord came out, he was with someone who quoted him £550 for the door to be replaced with a proper UPC (if thats how you spell it). he then rang me about an hour later and said he paid a deposit for the door to be put on order and said that it would be installed in a weeks time. Which whilst i waited i had to climb out of the bedroom window to get in and out of the flat as the door was badly damaged. the door was suppose to be put in a week before Christmas and i got alot of excesses saying the door wont be done now until after christmas as the maching that bonds the door was out of order awaiting a new part. January came, still no door, so he paid someone to screw the door handle back in. I was not happy as you would imagine, at the time i had no fire alarms either. So already he has breached the law and the tenancy. He came to my property to install the fire alarms as he refused to pay someone to do it (BTW the fire alarms are powered by the electricity wire hanging from the celling). He went thought the rent statement and started to get rude so i ask him polity to leave, he got up and started to walk to the front door and so suddenly for no reason came back into the living room, and said 'This is my flat, if you want me out make me'. So i went to get the house phone and he started to get aggressive to a point he was that close i thought he was planning to beat me. I called the police, still refusing to leave, the police women told him he has to leave. So he did. As he walked out i got alot of hate crime, saying i was Puff (term for gays). That he hopes i rott in hell. 10 Minutes later, he returned only to try kicking the door in, i had to hold the door to stop him gaining access. Luckly i had my phone on me so i called 999 and the police were with me in less then 5 minutes. The police warned him and he was shaking by how the police was laying the law down to him. So from there i refused to pay rent, I also had to quit my job because i was scared to leave the property. Because of the landlords actions. He is now taking me to court as he is claiming £1058 for rent arrears/Damages. (he did serve a S21). I got advice and i can counter claim for the disrepair. But what i cant seem to establish can i also counter claim against losses to earning due to his actions and behaviour? CAB and Shelter both said there is a chance that there is but to seek proper legal advice (solictor). I have evidence of a Police Report, Photos of the Disrepair. Also what can i claim for? Thank you for reading, Sorry its a long story but i would like to ensure you get the full facts before advising.