Former rent arrears team

The Former Rent Arrears team are responsible for collecting money owed when people leave temporary accommodation and move somewhere else, e.g. if they receive a permanent council flat or move into different temporary accommodation.

Many people don’t realise that their debts ‘follow’ them around, and we have to remind them of, and collect, money owed for previous accommodation – this debt is not added to the rent account for their new property, but is kept separate.

If tenants fail to pay their former rent arrears, we will apply to court to have one of the following measures put in place:

• A warrant of execution, which means a bailiff will visit them and request payment. If payment is not made, they will seize goods to the value of the money owed
• A third-party debt order, which means that your bank or building society will pay us directly from your account. If they are on benefits, we will take payments directly from those
• An attachment of earnings order, which means their employer will deduct money from their wages each payday until the debt is cleared
• A charging order on your property, which means that if they become a home owner, they will not be able to sell their property unless the debt is cleared first.

If you are in former rent arrears and do not have a repayment arrangement, it is advisable to contact us, come to a repayment arrangement with us and, most importantly, stick to the arrangement agreed.

Contact us

Contact the Former Rent Arrears team to pay off money owed for previous accommodation.

Albert Jacob House
62 Roman Road
Bethnal Green
London E2 0PG

Tel: 020 7364 7474
Fax: 020 7364 7304

Opening times

Monday to Friday 9:30am - 4pm
Telephone times: Monday to Friday 9:00am - 5pm

Access

Wheelchair access - also there is a hearing loop in the reception area.

Transport

Tube: Bethnal Green
Buses: D6 & no. 8