I'm in a world of worry and really do not know what to do. I had been claiming benefits since 2003. I suffer from severe arthritis and had been in receipt of Incapacity Benefit, Housing and Council Tax Benefit up untill June 2011. I am still in receipt of DLA. Last year, a friend of mine offered to train me in an administrative job in his Company which I started on 1st June 2011. I subsequently signed off my benefits and started paying my rent and council tax. In April of 2011 I received a letter from the Council stating they had cause to believe that I had not advised them in a change in my circumstances and was under investigation. They have looked into my bank statements back to December 2006 and seen that more money has gone into my bank than I received in benefits. I explained the reason in writing to them. I am a single father of 3. I have joint custody of my children but my ex-wife has always claimed their benefits. This meant that I was not entitled to claim any help for them. It was impossible for me to do my bit for them on the benefits I received. My sister paid for their mobile phones, Sky TV and anything else she could for them. She gave me the money for this which went into my account to pay direct debits. Before my illness struck I was quite well off and built up various collections of memorabillia. I sold all these off over the past 5 or 6 years on Ebay or at car boot sales to raise money to support my kids. Paypal payments for these sales also went into my bank. I also sold things on my ebay account for friends. Not for profit, they paid the fees, thats it! These paypal payments also went through my bank account. I also had loans from friends and family, credit cards, etc. I am in serious debt. I have explained to the Investigator that just because money has gone through my account it does not mean it's all mine! Also, I don't see how selling my belongings to put food on the table can be classed as income, I sold things out of necessity . I was advised not to attend the interviews under caution due to my mental state. I have received a benefit overpayment bill of £17000:00 for the past 5 years and also an intimidating letter from the investigator saying he is pushing for a criminal prosecution. The stress from all the worry is affecting my illness which in turn is affecting my ability to work. I don't want to have to give up work and end up back on benefits. I don't know where to turn. I'm in the depths of depression and I know I couldn't cope with a court case. I need to know if loans, sale of belongings or financial help from friends and family can be classed as income? Any advice would be much appreciated.

Hi, I've received a letter today from Housing Benefit. They say they need some further details to "amend" my claim. I currently live with my 4 children, one is non dependent and pays rent and my 2 daughters are 18 and 13 and in receipt of child benefit and child tax credit. My other son who is 16 and left school just under a year ago, no longer receives child benefit as he isn't currently working or in training. He is registered with apprenticeship companies and connexions but as he has little qualifications he is finding it very difficult to find work. My question is where do I stand with his part of my housing benefit claim?? Is he a non dependent until he is 18?? The letter asks if my son is in receipt of a benefit and if not how is he making an income. I'm really confused and worried about this and would really appreciate any answers. Thank you.

House move coming up 1st june moving to new area I am going to have to make new claim but all my addreses are old untill they change will i get housing benifet payment? also i have no income accept child tax and child benifet as once we move we will be making new claim for jsa (joint) will we still get housing and will it process ok untill jsa up and running?

Hi! I am a student living with three other students in a house. Our contract started on the 16th September 2011 as a 12 month contract, however we all finish our studies by the beginning of June. After speaking to a few people I was informed that after staying in the property for 6months or more, by law, you can not be stopped from terminating your contract as long as 60days notice is given? I was wondering if this was in fact true, and if so, how I go about terminating the agreement? Thank you!

Hello I am in the process of renting a new apartment. Final has to be signed tomorrow. Yesterday, the agency tells me they forgot to make us pay a check-out fee and some other fee to draft the contract. I was wondering how this is legal, as we signed a "deal sheet" mentioning no check-out fee or rather a check-out fee of 0 pounds. What's the value of that deal sheet? (the agreement we signed says there may be a check-out fee, with no amount specified, but that can only be taken if the agency is managing the property, which doesn't seem to be the case) Also, if there's not check-in inventory, I guess there can't be any check-out inventory? thanks for your answer!

I have just received a letter from the council demanding housing benefit overpayment of £1130 or they will start court proceedings in 7 days. The circumstances are as follows: I moved from my house in September 2010 and phoned the council tax department to make them aware of my change of circumstances and to take my name off the council tax bill. They informed me would cancel it and my housing benefit payment also. I received a letter later in the week outlining the date of my last payment. In February 2011 I was checking my bank account and realised that I had received a payment for October and November. I emailed them straight away to tell them there had been a mistake and they did not reply. I assumed that as it was an error on their part that I didn't have to pay. I moved to another EU country in March. Ten months later they sent me a letter demanding payment in full within 7 days or face court action. They claim to have sent me two previous letters, but I have not received anything from them. I also do not have the letter they sent me last September saying when the payments would stop. I am now in a complete panic, as the money is due in full tomorrow. Do I have any right to appeal? Can I ask for copies of the letters they sent me acknowledging my change of circumstances as proof that it was their error? As I now live in another country can they really take me to court? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Residential market update There was an improvement in market conditions in April according to the RICS. Fewer surveyors expect price falls, new buyer enquiries stabilised and sales rose slightly. The number of housing starts was 22% higher in the year ending in March 2011 than the previous year. While this shows more activity, the RICS has warned that house building is still at historically low levels Cost of running a home still rising The average annual cost associated with owning and running a home rose by 1.4% from £8,956 in March 2010 to £9,083 in March 2011, with gas and electricity charges and maintenance being the highest risers. With thanks to SG Landscope

Hi, I've looked for legal help on this matter and have been in touch with the MP, CAB, doctors, etc etc everyone and anyone. Here's the story: I have two children a boy being the eldest and a daughter the youngest. 11 years ago I was moved from a 3 bedroom maisonette (previously deemed unsafe for young children) to a 2 bedroom house just 5 weeks before my son turned 5 years old. Atlantic H.A. policy is two siblings of opposite sex where the eldest is 5+ years old are entitled to their own bedrooms. Craftily they moved us just before this time and 11 years later my son has just turned 16 years old and is still sharing with his sister who is due to turn 15 in March. The main reason I believe is rent arrears, due to my ex husband leaving us unexpectedly and got ourselves into a huge pile of debt. I approached the housing within a couple of weeks when I was sure he wasnt coming back and had got out of my darkest days and thay were completely unsymapthetic and threatened to kick us out there and then, even with me in tears telling them what had happened. I lost my job a while later, plunging us further into debt. I've struggled to pay this back. However, visiting the housing department of the council I was told the arrears may not make a difference at all. I know plenty of people who have moved within thios time with young children who have 'borderline problems'. They have moved on health grounds. My children are happy and healthy and I feel they have been penailsed because of this. Should they have moved us from a 3 bed in the first place? Should they have moved us out of the immediate area? This alone is causing a nightmare on finances as i've found myself without a car and have to pay someone to take them to and from school continuously. I know there is no real law against children sharing a bedroom but I do feel we have been wronged here. My son is currently sitting his exams and has a girlfriend etc etc. Both my kids went through puberty at an early age and I feel utterly awful I can't provide them with a basic suitable home. We were told one could sleep in the living room but the house is tiny and we are tripping over each other as it is. Any help would be greatly received.

Private Rented Housing (Scotland) Bill The bill aims to improve standards of service for tenants in private rented housing. It will change the landlord registration system, change HMO licensing and give local authorities more powers to address overcrowding. Landlords will also have to provide a compulsory pre-tenancy information pack for tenants http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/bills/54-prHousing/b54s3-introd.pdf http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/committees/lgc/inquiries/PrivateHousing/index.htm Lex

Today I went to court to defend a Accelerated Possession claim from my Landlord (LL). The Section 21 Notice was, the LL claims posted under my door, even though that is impossible due to size of gap. the Judge believed LL not me, even though the LL could not remember what was in the envelope. Judge called in a witness who swore on oath that he (a friend of LL) saw the Section 8 & Section 21 go into the envelope and then under the door, the witness was not asked to prove who he was in the courtroom, no ID, he just walked in swore on oath said his piece and sat down, he could have been anyone, no one checked! My deposit was paid May 2005 and renewed June 2008 with the original deposit, the LL applied to protect the deposit in January 2010 some 18 months late, The original Certificate was never seen or signed by myself. It has false information on and I had a letter from mydeposits.co.uk who confirmed the protection was invaid as it was applied for outside of the fixed term of 6 months of the AST. . The Judge gave the LL possession and made the decision based on those incorrect false information. The Judge was told 2 or 3 times the information was incorrect and the papers to prove my defence were in front of the Judge. My solicitor informed the Judge the information was incorrect therefore invalid the Judge said that she accepted that the information was incorrect but the LL had made some provision to try to protect the deposit, (even though it was invalid and false) The Judge gave LL the possession order!!! I have no faith in the UK Judicial System it is a con, I had so much evidence in my defence with regard the TDS but the Judge followed the lies and false incorrect information ot determine the Order! I have asked the Court for a transcript of the hearing. I have made a complaint about the Judge at engine search judicial complaints UK I have written to my MP (an ex lawyer) I am aware they all stick together and who is going t take on a Judge for a complaint???? Can I afford to take this to Appeal? Of course not , they know poor people wont get legal aid so they treat them like this! (Im on JSA) Judges are not exempt they are not higher than teh law they do not create teh law they make decisions based on fact and truth..unless your the Judge I had! The Court should be a place of truth and justice!