The deadline for applying for a payment holiday has been extended to the 31 March 2021. During this period you do not have to make any payments to your mortgage but be aware that your monthly payment will go up after the holiday ends. Covid-19 and Housing – where are we now? This report offers a deep dive into … Convenient online courses Shelter Cymru’s training courses and resources are accessible online at any time, from anywhere. Email or Phone: Password: Forgot account? Universal credit If you are working age and on a … If you are having problems paying your rent because of coronavirus, you must tell your landlord as soon as you can. If you are worried that you will lose your home because of the pandemic, find out how you can get free help and advice today. This includes those delivered from the offices of other organisations as well as those delivered from its own offices. Contact your local food bank if you need help with food. Most claims for universal credit are made online. Initial property viewings should be done online. If your situation has changed because of the pandemic you may now qualify for some help paying your council tax. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. If you feel that you are being abused and need to talk to someone, there are organisations open – use our search tool below. Follow @DWP on Twitter for up to date information. If you are unable to talk, hold the line until you hear the message “you are through to the police”. You can call the Samaritans for free on 116 123, their lines are always open and you can talk to them about anything. The council should help you make a homelessness application and, if you are sleeping rough, or at risk of finding yourself on the street, they should give you emergency accommodation. If you have received a notice you should stay in your home. If you share your accommodation with others, for example, you rent a shared house, are staying in a hostel, or are sofa-surfing, you must tell those you live with if you: Try to avoid visiting shared spaces such as kitchens, bathrooms and sitting areas as much as possible. Shelter Cymru, Swansea. Your landlord may be sympathetic to your request to leave if they understand your reasons. Visit our dedicated page Coronavirus : advice for young people. The Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru and Scottish Greens have all called off their spring conferences in response to COVID-19. Make sure any agreement you make is in writing. If you are worried that talking would put you in further danger, you can use The Silent Solution System. COVID-19 guide for parents What you need to … If you are worried about getting in to debt during this time Shelter Cymru provides free, independent, confidential, specialist debt advice across Wales. If you want to leave your tenancy early because of coronavirus, you must make sure you end your tenancy correctly. Chat to one of our advisers using our instant messaging service, Call our expert housing helpline on 08000 495 495, This page was last updated on: January 11, 2021. Worried about paying your mortgage? They may be sympathetic to your request to leave if they understand your reasons. To read our full advice about dealing with rent arrears, click here. You will be contacted by the court if this happens and you will be told if there is to be a court hearing. Men can contact the Men’s Advice Line on 0808 8010327 and The Dyn Project in Wales. This is called a ‘Reactivation Notice’. Other household bills and essential expenses. There groups can help in a many different ways including help with shopping, meals on wheels, delivering medicines or just a friendly telephone conversation. You can usually get a universal credit advance within a few days if you can’t wait 5 weeks for your first payment. Police will still come to your home. To keep our advice team safe, our advisers are now working from home. Make sure you tell your landlord about the affect that coronavirus has had on you and your family. Once you’re done, click copy text to clipboard. Women’s Aid also have lots of help and easy to read information on their website. Try to continue to pay your rent if you can or, if you can’t, contact your landlord to try and agree a repayment arrangement. It should not be regarded or relied upon as a complete or authoritative statement of the law. Coronavirus housing … Mortgage lenders are allowing borrowers to apply for a ‘payment holiday’ of up to 6 months during the pandemic. They might be understanding and agree to late payments or to reducing your rent for a period. Shelter Cymru acknowledges the support of Shelter in allowing us to adapt their content. You must be in receipt of a qualifying benefit to apply. Click here for more details. Shelter Cymru is Wales’ people and homes charity. Since the national lockdown in March 2020 there have been regular changes in the housing world in adjusting to the “new normal.” This course aims to equip you with an update to housing and homelessness following in recent months and what the changes mean on a day to day practical … Use the sample text below to help you put together an email or text. You will still be responsible for paying your rent if you don’t. If staying at home puts you or your family at risk of abuse from someone else in the household, you should get help. So if your organisation has people working from home or in settings where social distancing is necessary, this could be an opportunity to invest in their skills and knowledge. If you are feeling anxious or stressed during this difficult time there are helplines that can support you. We have set out below some sample wording you could use to send to your landlord or agent in a letter, email or text. Your landlord must give … Viewings should not happen in those circumstances. Click here for more details about how to apply. If you do not have anywhere to live you should contact your local council or your support worker as soon as you can. Rather than banning all evictions as promised, the emergency legislation will simply extend the current notice period for a section 21 eviction from two months to three. In the notice they must give information to the court about the impact coronavirus has had on you and your family. Find out more about leaving a tenancy early here. Mae COVID-19 wedi gwthio llawer o bobl yn agos at ddigartrefedd. For example, if you have had to move urgently because you or a family member was sick or needed support. You should still pay your rent while you are waiting to be contacted by the court. Lenders can start court proceedings to repossess mortgaged properties during the pandemic but, even if a possession order is made against you, lenders should not repossess your home until after the 31 January 2021. You should not move home if you’re self isolating or have tested positive for coronavirus. Applications are currently being treated more flexibly until the 31 March 2021. You or a trusted adult should call 999 and ask for an ambulance, even during the coronavirus outbreak. Accessibility Help . You might qualify for benefits or financial help if: Universal credit Mental health emergencies are serious. If you have to leave because of abuse or threats of abuse, contact your local council, they should be able to help you with finding somewhere to stay. You will still be responsible for paying your rent whilst your tenancy is continuing, even if you are not living there. If you are in immediate danger, call 999. you can’t work because you’re sick or self isolating, everyone in your home is a full time university or college student, everyone in your home is under the age of 18, or. The loan will be paid direct to your landlord and will have to be paid back within 5 years. For tips on what other steps you can take to keep safe, click here. Take a look at our step-by-step guide to making a homelessness application. Read the Welsh Government guidance Renting a home : coronavirus. Any move should be delayed. You normally have to allow your landlord access to carry out repairs but you can ask your landlord to postpone any repairs which are not urgent. Your benefit will usually increase if you report an income drop promptly. To find out more about applying for benefits during the coronavirus pandemic click here. See Citizens Advice for more information on: If you are vulnerable, homeless or need emergency help phone your local Jobcentre Plus. The Discretionary Assistance Fund provides urgent grants to people in Wales as a last resort. Find contact details for your local council here. Your landlord or agent can only arrange a physical viewing of your home with your agreement. What if I received a notice from my landlord before the 29 September 2020? Safety when … From 29 September 2020, most tenants in Wales are entitled to 6 months’ notice before their landlord can start court action to evict them. The Welsh Government currently expects councils to do all that they can to help you if you are at risk of sleeping rough, for example because you are: If you are in this situation and the council says it cannot help you get advice straight away. Annual gas safety checks remain an important legal requirement but they should be rearranged if they cannot go ahead safely because someone in your home is self isolating. Click on the topics below to help work out what it means for you. Many lenders have also announced extra help for borrowers including : Click here to find out what support your lender is giving. Tell your landlord or agent if you are self-isolating or have symptoms of coronavirus. Food banks provide food parcels to people in need. It is likely to be an illegal eviction if your landlord: Most tenants are currently entitled to 6 months’ notice before their landlord can apply for a court order. It is illegal for your  landlord to make you leave without giving you the right amount of notice or getting a court order. Benefits. If you feel it is not safe to stay at home but you have nowhere to go, get help from your local council’s homelessness department. Coronavirus - Shelter Cymru Many people are worried about coronavirus and how it could affect their housing. Find out more about the scheme here and to make an application, click here. They might not be able to get the problem fixed during the usual timescales but shouldn’t delay repairs unreasonably. Depending on your situation the council might be able to stop you becoming homeless or, if necessary, find somewhere for you to stay and keep safe. Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Guidance for the housing, homelessness and support sector We are in daily contact with the Welsh Government's housing and social care teams, working with them to consider and respond to the risks and concerns affecting the homelessness, housing and support sector. What to do if you are worried about being evicted and if you are being threatened with eviction. This could be in the same building. Call the Live Fear Free helpline on 0808 80 10 800 (free and confidential) or visit Welsh Women’s Aid advice page on Safety and Self-Care Advice for Survivors in Isolation. You can only end a fixed term tenancy early if your tenancy agreement has a break clause or you negotiate an early end to the agreement with your landlord. If your income has dropped and you are worried about paying rent, tell your landlord or agent straight away. This includes : You could be given a shorter notice in some cases. For example, mortgage payment protection insurance or through your current account. This includes where : You can find more information about the help you can get paying your council tax here. This website uses cookies to provide you with the best browsing experience. Find out more about leaving a tenancy early here. Get advice straight away if you receive any letters from the court. Even though you have a roof over your head you are still classed as homeless and your local council should be able to help you. You can move home but you must try to do as much of the process online as possible and follow current Welsh Government guidance. There are also charities and even apps that can help with managing anxiety: Coronavirus and mental health (Young Mind). You can also look at the Welsh Government information leaflet for rough sleepers. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. Some court cases were put on hold between March and August 2020. From 18 March 2020, Shelter Cymru is closed to all face to face advice surgeries and sessions until further notice. Last updated: 22 December 2020. You can find out more about illegal evictions here. Use our Support Near You tool to find services and organisations who can help you now. Shelter Cymru is Wales’ people and homes charity. If you are not feeling safe at home, you must get help. Read about access to your rented home for repairs here. Click here for more details about how to apply. There is still lots of help and support available – we’ve given the details of national organisations that can help you below. you are a care leaver under the age of 25. If you need to collect your belongings from a tenancy that you have already moved out of, take a look at this Welsh Government, If you have a tenancy agreement, then your landlord cannot just ask you to leave, they must follow. Emergency laws have been introduced in Wales to protect tenants from eviction for a temporary period. Guidance and advice is changing quickly. Read more . What you need to know about a COVID-19 vaccine Answers to the most common questions about coronavirus vaccine development Read the story. Shelter Cymru yw’r elusen yng Nghymru ar gyfer pobl a chartrefi. Includes advice … Anyone who comes to carry out repairs should follow Welsh Government guidance on social distancing. For more advice on what to do if you are already claiming benefits or how to claim benefits, click here. With unlawful evictions on the rise in Wales since the Covid-19 pandemic hit, this course seeks to provide you with information and practical guidance on recognising unlawful evictions and harassment and how these issues can be dealt with by tenants in the private rented sector. Covid-19 and Housing – where are we now? Jun 2020. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. COVID-19 and conflict – a deadly combination The pandemic has deepened acute food insecurity in countries already under intense strain, leaving millions of children at risk of famine Read the story. Shelter Cymru said private renters were among the hardest-hit by the pandemic. Clear Fear is a free app to help recognise, manage and reduce your anxiety and fear. If, after an online viewing, you remain interested in a property it is usually a good idea to visit the property in person before you sign a contract. You should follow Welsh Government guidance on social distancing during a viewing, wear a face mask and try to make sure no one is in the property when you view it. It should not be regarded or relied upon as a complete or authoritative statement of the law. 6.1K likes. If you want to leave your tenancy early because of coronavirus (for example, you are a student and have had to return home to be with your family), you must make sure you end your tenancy correctly. You should report repairs by phone, email or online. If you are in immediate danger, call the police on 999. Homes for all Cymru make the case for good homes to be central to the national recovery plan. You might qualify for benefits or financial help if: you lose your job; you can’t work because you’re sick or self isolating; your pay goes down because of the COVID-19 outbreak. This is because coronavirus can spread very easily and if you are sleeping on the streets it is very difficult for you to keep to the government health advice for hygiene, self-isolation and social distancing. you can’t work because you’re sick or self isolating. If staying at home puts you at risk of abuse from someone else in the household, there is help available. If you are shielding and/or at higher risk from coronavirus due to health reasons, you should discuss the move with your GP first. If you are having problems with your rent, contact your landlord as soon as you can. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. Many local communities have made arrangements to help individuals who are vulnerable due to Covid-19. The police raided the shelter because the commission had received a complaint from a resident of the home, a press released issued by Ms Maliwal's office said. To find their contact details, and to find out more about claiming benefits and coronavirus click here. your pay goes down because of the COVID-19 outbreak. 17 April: … It is also illegal for your landlord to lock you out of your home. The Welsh Government said it would keep its own six-month notice period, due to expire in September, "under review". COVID-19 has pushed many people to the brink of homelessness. NOTE: For general information about COVID-19 visit Welsh Government.For information on the vaccine and its rollout visit Public Health Wales. You could get support including: For more advice and help about paying energy and water bills have a look at the National Energy Action (NEA) Warm and Safe Homes scheme. If you are working age and on a low income you might be able to apply for universal credit. It is okay to feel frightened and worried. Check and save your message before you send it. Find out more about the self-isolation payment here. Police can still come to your home. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. Find out more about what help you may be able to get. This means our helpline is still open but operating with reduced capacity and there is now a queue limit time of 8 minutes. It is important that you continue to pay your rent if possible. There are some exceptions, including cases of anti-social behaviour, trespass or domestic violence. Some landlords can apply for a break in mortgage payments if their tenants are struggling to pay rent due to coronavirus, but this won’t always be possible. If you need to collect your belongings from a tenancy that you have already moved out of, take a look at this Welsh Government guidance first. an agreement for someone else to top up your pre-payment meter. Do this in an email or text and keep a copy so that you can show this to the court if asked. Contact the housing department at your local council as soon as you can and ask to make a, If you are not sure which council you fall under, you can. Eviction during the coronavirus pandemic. See our pages on harassment and illegal eviction and contact your local council, Rent Smart Wales or the police. If possible, ask for a suitable alternative self-contained space until you are fully recovered. They have had some support from Shelter Cymru, which says Covid-19 has exposed "huge inequalities". If you are feeling anxious or stressed during this difficult time there are helplines that can support you. If your income has dropped and you are worried about paying your mortgage, speak to your lender as soon as possible. Please give £10 today and help us to continue to support as many people as we can during this difficult time. We’re currently taking a high number of calls from people who are worried about losing their jobs, their homes, and keeping their families safe during the Coronavirus outbreak. Read our advice on how to deal with mortgage arrears. Click anywhere in the white box to make changes. UC can include a claim for help with your housing costs, including rent payments. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. Click here to see if you can. For more information on student support go to gov.wales. At Shelter Cymru we share the disappointment of our sister organisation about the UK Government’s over-hyped measures to prevent evictions during the coronavirus outbreak. They might be sympathetic and agree to late rent or a rent reduction for a temporary period. Check your tenancy agreement to see if it says anything about paying rent when you are not at the property or ending the tenancy early. 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