Carers overpayment caused a rent deficit 3 months prior?

aiden97

Hi so I am looking for information that I haven't been able to find to explain this, do I'm hoping someone here can explain or help me understand..

So, I recently was looking at my Torus rent account and noticed some arrears. This is strange as from the moment we got the tenancy we were never in arrears (except for UC paying in arrears).

So I looked into it, and came to see that UC (who send the payments direct to Torus) had not paid the correct rent amounts in April, May, and June. With this being rectified in July and has been correct since. I spoke to Torus and they explained it may be a delay in them confirming the new rent charges for this year's end of tax year, and I should speak to them to get it corrected and the amount paid off.

I call them, and leave journal messages in which they keep referring to when carers was applied for by my partner and backdated. I understand this causes an overpayment which must be paid back. UC are saying that this carers overpayment has caused the rent deficit the previous months, but I can't understand how rent charges that have already been paid could be changed (if that's even what happened). Otherwise they are saying we are responsible for the shortfall and that this isn't their mistake.. also during the months of April may June and July I only ever checked the rent account the odd occasion, and only noticed in September when I saw all the weekly charges together and the outstanding amount was more than they added up to... Am I just not understanding the way it all works or are they seeking to push this aside and force us to accept their mistake as our own?

Please help !!

poppy123456

As you’re renting from social housing I’m wondering if this is related to the fact that there’s 53 Mondays in this tax year. This means that your rent account will show in arrears because your housing element isn’t quite covering the whole of your rent.

With my landlord which is social housing I’m paying a small amount each month towards the shortfall and by the end of the tax year I’ll no longer be in arrears. There’s some information here. https://www.housingsolutions.co.uk/53-week-financial-year-what-it-means-for-you-from-april-2024/#:~:text=There%20will%20be%2053%20Mondays,Monday%20on%2031%20March%202025.