Legal Action
We may apply to the County Court for a money judgement against you followed by an attachment of earnings order. You will find it difficult to get credit if you have a County Court judgement registered against you.
We may apply for a possession order. Usually the judge will order that your tenancy continues provided that you pay the current rent and so much extra each week until the arrears are cleared. The repayment amount will be decided by the level of your spare income.
A possession order will mean that you lose the Right-to-Buy and the right to Exchange with another tenant. If you do not keep to the terms of the possession order we will apply to the court to end your tenancy and have you evicted. We regard eviction as a failure on our part but it is the ultimate sanction for the small number of people who do not keep to the terms of their tenancy and pay the rent properly.
If we take legal action, we recommend that you seek independent advice, for example from;
Arrears have bad effects all round.
Rent arrears and Boston Mayflower
Boston Mayflower will not have the money to do all the things you would like us to do.
Resources are used chasing arrears which could be better used elsewhere.
The banks (from which we borrow) and the Housing Corporation (who regulate us) take a dim view of arrears.
Rent arrears and you
If you have arrears, you will:
Find it difficult to transfer to another Boston Mayflower property or exchange with another Boston Mayflower tenant.
Get a poor reference if you apply for a mortgage, a loan or a move to another landlord.
Have broken the terms of your tenancy and may end up losing your home.
If you leave owing money, you will:
Find it difficult to get alternative local accommodation with a registered social landlord.
Be traced by our debt collection agents and action will be taken to collect what is owed, through money judgements if necessary.
Points to Remember
If you can’t pay your rent, act quickly.
- Contact Boston Mayflower
- Seek advice
- Find out whether you are entitled to any benefits
If you don’t, you risk losing your home.
It pays to pay.
