The Helping Tenants
in Arrears Kit
Are your tenants in arrears of rent?
Is this putting YOU in financial difficulties?
Is the situation getting worse?
The cost of living crisis has had a terrible effect on many tenants.
Thousands are finding it difficult to live on their earnings. Or have lost their jobs and are having to live on benefit – which is normally insufficient to pay for properties that were rented when they were in full employment.
Many landlords have just thrown up their hands and decided that eviction is the only answer.
But in most cases eviction is a terrible answer that helps no-one:
It is expensive for landlords
Particularly as most tenants will stop paying rent if they think they are going to be evicted
It takes a very long time
So by the time you recover possession your only option may be to sell the property
Even if this is not the case
there will be an inevitable void while you do the property up and then look for new tenants
Eviction can also be catastrophic
for tenants who may be rendered homeless if they cannot find anywhere else to live
But eviction is NOT the only answer!
Or scroll on down to read more ...
Introducing Julie Ford
Julie is a housing adviser who specialises in ‘Alternative Rent Arrears Resolution’ ie helping tenants in rent arrears.
In February 2021 we invited her to do a training webinar for Landlord Law members and we were all blown away by her presentation!
She explained to us how she was able to help tenants remain in their property on full rent with the rent arrears cleared – by sorting out their benefit and applying for grant aid. Most of us listening had no idea that there was so much grant aid available!
Watch the videos below (taken from that presentation) to find out more about her work.
Julie’s presentation was a revelation to many and I know she was contacted by many landlords afterwards. However, Julie cannot personally help all of the many thousands of tenants who are in arrears.
So we decided to create a course explaining Julie’s methods and giving links to the sources she uses, to help landlords and their letting agents do this work themselves.
So what does the Kit contain?
- The full version of that first training webinar
- Clips from other training webinars from Julie
- A step-by-step guide to Julie’s procedures for helping tenants
- Links to online resources
Guidance includes:
- Engagement with tenants
- Priority and non-priority debts
- Helping with utility debts
- Checking benefit entitlement
- Seeking help from the Local Authority
- Searching for and applying for grant aid
It is not often realised that there are thousands of charitable and other organisations that will provide grant aid to help tenants remain in their rented properties.
If you get the +plus version of the kit
You will also have Julie’s precedent documentation, including:
- The information form for tenants to complete, and
- An income and expenditure form
- Draft letters (eg to the tenants plus a letter of authority form), and
- A form you can use to record details of your case.
We can't guarantee that you will be successful in ALL cases
but in many cases you should be able to claim at least some funding for your tenants.
Even if you are not able to recover everything.
Or scroll on down to read more ...
Every tenant who is helped to stay in their property is a gain:
Tenants will gain as they will not be at risk of homelessness
A terrible thing for tenants which could affect them negatively for the rest of their lives
Landlords will gain as their income will be stabilised
and they will not have to suffer the expense and stress of court proceedings and then having to find new tenants
Landlords’ agents will gain
as there will be money available to pay their commission
Agents' landlord clients will be delighted with their service
and more likely to remain with them and give testimonials
Helping tenants to pay their rent and remain in their homes will also help:
- Our overloaded Court system which is struggling to cope with a massive backlog of cases, and
- Local Authorities who will be spared the heavy cost of rehousing tenants in priority need.
Eviction should always be the last resort – and with this kit, you will have the means to avoid court action in many if not most cases.
Its a 'no brainer'!
- The situation will (in most cases) be resolved much quicker than going to court (it is currently estimated that eviction claims will take up to 18 months or more to complete)
- Landlords may recover full rent arrears
- Tenants issues can, in many cases, be resolved – whether it is affording the rent going forward or finding more suitable housing
- It is a less aggressive and kinder way to deal with tenants who frequently are in arrears through no fault of their own
Are you a letting agency?
Why not use this kit to train up a special member of staff who will be available to help all tenants who fall into difficulties?
It will mean fewer problem tenants and your landlords will love you! There is no reason why this cannot be a chargeable service.
Or scroll on down to read more ...
Mobile Friendly website
All our content is hosted on a mobile responsive website, which allows you to read and study the kits easily, and watch the videos on most devices, including smart-phones and tablets.
The only parts of the kits which are perhaps best dealt with on a laptop or desktop computer are the forms. Otherwise, the kit can easily be accessed, for example on your smart-phone, while travelling or waiting in a queue.
Be aware that the kit is wholly electronic. Nothing is sent out by post.
Our guarantee to you
If you find the kit is unsuitable for you in any way - all you need to do is send us a message via our 'green button messenger service' requesting a cancellation not later than 30 days after purchase, giving your reason why. Your payment will then be refunded and your access to the kit cancelled.
Your questions answered:
Q: What if I can’t access the kit or if it does not work on my computer?
A: It should do, this is a standard WordPress website. However, if you have a problem, contact us via our ‘green button’ support service. If the problem cannot be resolved, you can claim your money back under our guarantee.
Q: I am based in Wales, can I use the kit?
A: Yes the kit will be suitable for you.
Q: I am based in Scotland, can I use the kit?
A: The kit is written mainly for an English audience and Scotland has a different legal system but the principles should still apply.
Q: How long do I get access?
A: You will get lifetime access.
‘Lifetime access’ means that you will be able to use the kit as long as this site is up and running (ie for the lifetime of this website). Although we only guarantee a 12 months access – so if the site gets taken down for any reason during the first 12 months after purchase, you can claim a refund of a proportionate part of your purchase price.
Q: I am a Landlord Law member – do I need the kit?
A: The kit is not available as part of Landlord Law membership (apart from the training webinar). But Landlord Law members will get an automatic discount of 20% if they are logged in at the time of purchase.
Q: Can I ask you questions about my particular issues?
A: The kit does not include any ‘one to one’ advice element. Although we may run training webinars in due course which kit owners will be able to attend at a lower cost.
Q: I prefer not to pay online – can I pay by BACS or cheque?
A: No. We only accept payment via our online system. However, you can elect to pay by either credit / debit card or pay pal.
Q: If I get the standard kit but then decide I would like the Plus version, can I upgrade?
A: Yes, but this will be conditional upon a payment to take account of the difference in cost between the two versions plus a £15 admin charge. To upgrade, contact us via the green button support service.
The Helping Tenants
in Arrears Kit
How to buy the kit
- If you have an account with us:
For example if you are a Landlord Law member or have bought something before log in here.
(This link will open in a new tab or window.) Your username will be the email address you used at purchase. If you have forgotten your password you can get a new one via the login screen link.
Then come back to this page and proceed as follows.
- How to buy the Kit:
- Click one of the coloured buttons below
- This will take you to the product page. Click to add to the ‘basket’
- This will take you to the ‘basket’ page. Check you are happy with the basket totals and then click ‘Proceed to checkout’. (If you have duplicate products – see the notes on the page).
- You should now be on the checkout page – if are using a coupon or want to offset Landlord Law points you can do this here. You will also need to enter your billing details.
- You can pay either by pay pal or by credit / debt card (the page just says credit card but you can use your debit card too). Enter your details as appropriate.
- Make sure you click the terms and conditions button and click the orange ‘Place Order’ button. Tip – you many need to wait a while for your order to process. Please be patient.
- Once the payment goes through you will be logged in and taken to a thank you page which has a direct link to the Kit
- You should also receive several emails – one will be a receipt for your payment, another will provide access information.
If you have any problems contact us via the green button messenger service (there is a green button bottom right on all Landlord Law pages – just click it to open it up).
All kits are sold subject to our standard terms and conditions (the link will open in a new window or tab).
Please now select one of the options below:
The Helping Tenants in Arrears Kit
Standard Version
This includes the following:
- The full version of Julie’s training webinar
- A step by step guide for you to follow
- Links to relevant services you can use to check benefit entitlement, and
- Links to check for grant aid
- Access to the Landlord Law Local Authority Directory where we will be publishing relevant information
- A special link for you to use if you wish to instruct Julie to carry out an assessment of your case for £50
- A telephone advice service at the preferential rate of £115 (normal price £130).
Cost is £120 (£100 + VAT)
The Helping Tenants in Arrears Kit
Plus Version
This includes the following:
- All the Standard Version content
Plus:
- A pdf form you can use to obtain information from tenants, and
- An income and expenditure form
- Draft letters including
- Letters/emails to tenants and
- A letter of authority
Cost is £150 (£125 + VAT)
User feedback
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