|
Two Southwark Council services can help
private tenants like us with most problems that we might encounter with our
landlords.
- The Tenancy Relations Service (TRS)
deals with unlawful eviction, harassment, rent book offences and other
criminal offences.
- The Housing Advice Service (HAS)
deals with civil matters, including the fairness of tenancy agreements,
rent arrears and repairs.
Officers from these services, with
Cllr Lorraine Zuleta, recently met the TNRA committee to explain
their work and advise us when tenants should contact them. In summary,
for some common problems that we might have:
Rent arrears
If you receive a letter from Cluttons or Trinity House°s solicitors,
saying that you have rent arrears, contact the HAS (see below)
immediately. They can help you to obtain a clear statement from Cluttons
about when the arrears are alleged to have arisen.
Repairs
- If your lease states that the
landlord is responsible for repairs (this applies to all assured
shorthold tenancies and some others) and repairs need doing, write
to Cluttons and ask for them to be done. If nothing happens, write
again two weeks later. If still nothing happens, write again after
another two weeks. Keep copies of your letters and contact the HAS
if there is still no action.
- If you have an internal repairing
lease (assured tenancies and protected tenancies holding over after
8-year leases), contact the HAS and explain what sort of lease you
have and what your repairs problem is. They will advise about
whether you or the landlord is responsible.
Housing benefit
Contact Cllr Zuleta, who oversees this council department, if you
have any problems with payment of housing benefit. |