Former Tenant Arrears

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Former Tenant Arrears?

Former tenant arrears are the amounts of rent and any other service charges that remain outstanding to the Council after leaving your Council home. You are still required to make payments to clear this debt. Every effort will be made to trace former tenants and recover outstanding monies owed to the Council.

* Former Rent Arrears

Rent outstanding from the use of the Council home in question.

• Former Court Cost Arrears

Court costs outstanding due to legal action taken against tenant for rent arrears owed for the use of the Council home in question.

• Former Housing Benefit Overpayment Arrears

Overpayment of housing benefit, paid to tenant who should not have been entitled to it, usually due to change in circumstances or incorrect information given in a claim for housing benefit.

Please note that you may need to contact the Housing Benefit section to clarify the reason you were not entitled for the overpaid housing benefit.

It is your responsibility to pay back monies owed to Berwick Borough Council and you will not be re-housed by Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council, or possibly any other social landlord, until these arrears are cleared.

How/where can I pay?

 You can pay by the following methods:

* On line at www.berwickonline.org.uk

* At any post office in the UK

* At the Council Offices, Wallace Green, Berwick-upon-Tweed.

* By Standing order

* By Cheque

* By telephone 01289 301770/301771 by credit or debit card. Please have your payment reference number handy.

I am having difficulty paying. Can I make an arrangement and request a payment card?

 If you are having difficulty paying your account, contact Miss Caz Prentice on 01289 301836 to discuss a payment plan or to request a payment card.

What happens if I don’t pay?

 If you fail to pay your account, or fail to keep to any arrangement you have made, we will take recovery action.

We will first contact you by letter. If then no payment is made to clear the arrears we will pass your details over to a debt collection agency (bailiffs) that works for us. They will visit you to discuss arrangements for you to clear your former rent arrears.

Subsequent failure to pay the balance or bring your account up to date may result in court action to enforce payment of the debt.

A County Court Judgment may be registered against you which will stop you obtaining any future credit. Any additional legal fees will also be charged.

I wish to dispute my account?

If you disagree with the balance or it is not clear why it has been sent to you, please contact Sandra Anderson on 01289 301753.

I have changed my name/address, how do I inform you?

 If you have changed your circumstances you can inform us by completing the Change of Circumstances on-line form.

How do I contact you?

Sandra Anderson

Housing Unit, Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council, Council Offices, Wallace Green, Berwick-upon-Tweed. TD15 1 ED

Telephone: 01289 301753

Fax: 01289 330540