Great-grandfather told to pay extra rent in case he dies

A great-grandfather from Blackbird Leys was left shocked after being told to pay more rent in advance – just in case he dies.

Michael Sherry, 70, was stunned when he was sent the letter from his landlord, Oxford Citizens Housing Association (OCHA). The letter, detailing his direct debit rent payments for the next year, stated his monthly payment included an additional £13 to increase the credit in his account.



It explained that tenants were encouraged to be a month in credit to cover costs “in the unfortunate event of a resident dying”.

Mr Sherry said OCHA’s insensitive wording had upset him and his family, and the policy itself “beggared belief”. He added: “They want you to build up a month’s money in case you die. Do they want a month’s notice of you dying? I was shocked by it. They are going to get interest on that money, not the tenants.”


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In a letter OCHA stated that a month’s credit was encouraged because: “In the unfortunate event of a resident dying, housing benefit payments stop on the date of death, whereas the tenancy does not end for a further four weeks. It is good to be in credit so that family or next of kin are not burdened with finding the rent money.”

OCHA have apologised for the upset the letter had caused and promised to choose its words more carefully in future.