Offered home but landlord claims arrears from over 6 years ago!

[unclebulgaria67]

When you say private landlord is claiming rent arrears from you, what do you mean by claiming ?

 

Do they have Court judgement ? Or have they issued recent Court claim ?

 

Go back to Council and challenge them.  Many people needing social housing will have previous debts owed. Show them you have reliably paid rent for the last 6 years.

 

In these cases can be worth contacting nearest Citizens Advice as they will have direct contact with people senior in the Council.

[unclebulgaria67]

You need to complain about this, and your local Citizens Advice can help with this.  

 

and contact your local Councillor and ask for their help with this.

 

What you should not do, is just accept what they have said.  As they may have told you something that is not correct.

[unclebulgaria67]

You have to think why are they doing this ?

 

Have they found an historic issue, so they can offer the housing to someone else further down the priority list ?

 

Sounds like a game is being played, so make a formal complaint.

 

 

[unclebulgaria67]

Always best to provide new address. Then there can be no excuse for a person owed money to use last known address to get a CCJ and then send bailiffs (enforcement agents) out to see you to recover the debt.

 

If you provide your new address then at least you would have chance to defend any Court claim.

 

Also make sure you have Royal Mail re-direct any post to your new address for a decent period. This will hopefully stop potential issue of someone at the old address using your personal mail for improper purposes. E.g.  identity fraud.