Debt advice
- Financial support team
- Help and support for residents
- Debt advice organisations
- Council tenants in rent arrears
- Types of debts and possible outcomes
- Debt respite scheme (breathing space)
We know managing finances can be challenging, especially on a tight budget. If you’re struggling financially there is help and support available.
Financial support team
If you’re in debt, or have money worries, our financial support team may be able to help.
They’ll make sure you get the right support for your situation.
Find out more about the service and how to contact them:
Help and support for residents – Haringey, Here to Help
We want to make sure all Haringey residents get the support available to them, including help with:
- benefits
- other financial help
- employment
- housing
- mental health support
Find out more:
Debt advice organisations
Debt advice organisations can help you:
- find your most important debts and take action to pay them
- plan your weekly and monthly budget
- decide on a plan to deal with your debts
- talk with the people you owe money to
- understand court procedures and help you reply to court documents
Organisations
- National Debtline (external link)
Free, confidential and independent advice on how to deal with debt problems - Debt Advice Foundation (external link)
A specialist charity giving free, confidential advice on any area of debt - Citizens Advice Bureau: Debt and Money (external link)
Money advice and information on dealing with debt
Council tenants in rent arrears
If you are a council tenant in rent arrears you should contact your local housing office.
If you are unable to do this yourself, our financial support team may be able to help. Please contact them.
Types of debts and possible outcomes
If you’re experiencing debt or money problems, you should contact an adviser as soon as possible.
This list shows what could happen when certain debts are not dealt with:
- mortgage – repossession of your home, eviction
- second mortgage/secured loan – repossession of your home, eviction
- rent – eviction
- council tax – seizure of goods by bailiffs to cover money owed, deductions from wages/benefits
- water bill – supply disconnected
- gas/electricity bill – supply disconnected
- unpaid magistrates court fine – seizure of goods by bailiffs to cover money owed, deductions from wages/benefit, imprisonment
- unpaid maintenance/child support – seizure of goods by bailiffs to cover money owed, deductions from wages/benefit, imprisonment
- Income Tax/VAT/National Insurance – seizure of goods by bailiffs to cover money owed, bankruptcy
- telephone bill – disconnection
- hire purchase (not normal credit) – repossession of hire purchase goods
- unsecured credit card debts – county court judgement, lower credit rating
Debt respite scheme (breathing space)
The debt respite scheme is a free, government-backed scheme. It can give you the time and space to get debt advice and make a debt plan.
There are 2 options:
- standard breathing space
- mental health crisis breathing space
Standard breath space
The scheme gives you:
- up to 60 days of legal protections from the people you owe money to
- professional debt advice
For more information, and how to apply, contact a debt advice organisation like:
- StepChange (external site)
- National Debtline (external link)
- Citizens Advice Haringey (external link)
Mental health crisis breathing space
To apply for mental health breathing space, you must be receiving mental health crisis treatment.
For more information, and how to apply, see: