You should be able to apply for financial provision? and as part of your rights, you should be able to get that money back.
It seems like it would be illegal to accept money for maintenance payments and take the money instead. At the least it's irresponsible and at the worst it's fraud and I would be seeking to get every cent back, plus the other amounts that should have gone toward maintenance of the house and utilities. There should be emergency legal aid to help with this.
