Rent arrears and Christmas Free weeks?

[WinterSky]

Hiya Everyone.

 

I rent with a housing association and they offer 2 weeks rent free at Christmas.

 

I emailed them last week to ask which weeks they would be, and they got back to me today to tell me that I am not eligible as I am currently in arrears. In my original email I did acknowledge my arrears and outline that I would still pay the arrears for the two weeks.

 

I am a bit gutted about it and also a bit confused, does this mean that when I pay in full for those two weeks is all of that amount coming off of my arrears? If not, doesn't that mean I am techinally paying more rent in a years period than people who are not in arrears?

 

Does anyone know how this works?

 

Thanks everyone x

[silverfox1961]

Hi

 

As far as I am aware, the two weeks payment will come off your arrears in its entirety

 

As you are aware, the weekly rent is multiplied by 52 and then divided by 50 to enable the two rent free weeks. This gives a total rent for 50 weeks.

 

Any extra paid must come off the arrears

[WinterSky]

Hiya Silverfox,

 

Thank you for the reply, that does make sense, so it will be coming off of my arrears in full.

 

I may email them back to confirm that and possibily ask if I can in anyway have the free weeks if I still pay something off of the arrears for those two weeks, it would be a great help at the moment.

 

Thanks again

[mariner51]

I am not sure silverfox is correct. The '2 wk Free' could be Xmas rebate for those compliant Ts not in rent arrears.

If silverfox calc (wk rentx52/50) is correct, it would have to be applied to all rents from start and every T could complain the 'free period' offer breached Advertising Standards guidelines.

Ask HA to explain rules governing the Xmas 2 weeks free offer, without going into personal circumstance. Poss via FOI request?

[silverfox1961]

I believe the phrase on the tenancy agreements is "Payment free weeks" This doesn't mean that they are free but that payment has been made in advance.

 

We will have to wait and see what Wintersky brings back.

[stu007]

Hi

 

My own HA does something similar that has recently been introduced this yr due to the welfare reform and to improve tenants paying their rent.

 

the problem is:

 

1. This is not part of any Tenancy Agreement.

2. It is a HA Policy and in that policy you must NOT be in any arrears at all to take up the offer and their are a few other clauses.

 

Now could the OP clarify if the Free Weeks are written in their Tenancy Agreement?

 

If not the Op will probably need to ask the HA to clarify the 'Free weeks' and under which Policy and to be provided with a copy of that policy (this way OP will be able to confirm if they are entitled or not due to the arrears).