Although the rising cost of living has been hard on many people, tenants are often particularly affected when there’s a financial squeeze.
Although you can cut back on how much electricity and heating you use, you’re unlikely to have control over making your home more energy efficient.
The good news is there is a lot of support available for anyone who’s struggling at the moment including tenants. It’s there to help, so it’s important to take advantage of what’s available, especially if it means not having to make tough decisions between eating and heating, and enabling you to keep affording your rent.
It’s in everyone’s interest to make sure those that are struggling can afford to stay in their home, especially when rental stock is currently in such short supply in many areas.
The first place to turn to is a specialist site where you can find out if you are eligible for financial support: https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/. This covers help that can be secured for:
Energy bills
Household costs
Childcare costs
Income support
Travel costs
And if you’re on a low income, there is further support, including:
If you are on an eligible low income and getting certain benefits or tax credits, you should also receive £900 in three separate instalments over the coming tax year, under the Government’s Cost of Living Payments support scheme. This is automatic, so there’s no need to make an application.
If you can’t access any of the support above, but still need help, here are some of the things you could talk to your agent or landlord about:
If you pay the bills, you can request a smart meter and arrange for the switch yourself, although you should always ask permission from the landlord or managing agent first. To find out exactly what you need to do, just visit the Smart Energy GB website.
If you are struggling to pay the rent, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your landlord or managing agent - it’s much better to find a solution that works for everyone than to end up in a position where you can’t pay your rent.
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