I don't know where to turn next- I think I'm going to lose my home.

cw18

Being trying to dig through the LHA rules on-line. Can't find much there, but I did turn up one under the old Housing Benefit which may cause you problems.....

A lot of these 'sell and rent back' schemes seem to have fairly lengthy leases. Is this the case with yours?

The clause I found is

"You cannot claim for a property let on a lease of more than 21 years except for shared or co-ownership schemes, or where you are the owner-occupier, or if you are a tenant in a property owned by the Crown."

jellyhead

How far is college from a cheaper area? If you're not working and your daughter isn't in school yet then now might be the time to move - assuming that you're not going to earn enough to cover your rent in the near future?

Lost.Angry.Confused

Thank you all for your real kind words.

MnC- the allegations were internet based and no-one around this area knows anything about what has happenned. As far as the neighbours are concerned my husband is doing long distance HGV work at the moment. My children were never 'at risk' but SS gave a friendly 'warning shot across the bows' about me having to be very vigilant.

My husband put the house into joint names when he re mortgaged 2006. The money from the sale of the house went into my account only as he admitted he was crap with money. I have shown HB people all of our accounts leading back to 2006.

Thank you all!

LAC x

Lost.Angry.Confused

cw18 wrote: »

Being trying to dig through the LHA rules on-line. Can't find much there, but I did turn up one under the old Housing Benefit which may cause you problems.....

A lot of these 'sell and rent back' schemes seem to have fairly lengthy leases. Is this the case with yours?

The clause I found is

"You cannot claim for a property let on a lease of more than 21 years except for shared or co-ownership schemes, or where you are the owner-occupier, or if you are a tenant in a property owned by the Crown."

Haven't got a long term lease, it's a 6 month rolling contract so my landlord sends a new contract every 6 months.

Lost.Angry.Confused

jellyhead wrote: »

How far is college from a cheaper area? If you're not working and your daughter isn't in school yet then now might be the time to move - assuming that you're not going to earn enough to cover your rent in the near future?

If I'm being really honest, I'm so scared. I'm going to have a look tomorrow, but don't have enough money for 1 months rent + deposit for even the basic cheaper houses. I've got myself in such a mess.

suelees1

Lost.Angry.Confused wrote: »

Today I been turned down for housing benefit- because we have only been renting this place for a year- their criteria is I have to be renting for at least 5 years before being eligible.

I think you might be a bit confused with this.

It sounds to me like the regulation which provides that you are not entitled to HB for a period of 5 years for a house you previously owned. You MUST find a local advice agency and appeal this bearing in mind you have a month to appeal. If you don't know anywhere then try here
www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk/en/directory/directorysearch.jsp

cw18

Sounds like you need your LHA dept to clarify what this rule is. I do seem to think I've vaguely heard of something with 'rent backs' before, but don't know what it was.

I think clarification is definitely needed on who owned the house (did it get changed to joint ownership?) If it was in your OH's name only, then HE sold it. If your landlord now gives you a lease in YOUR name only, then I can't see what the problem is myself.

And if the rent is genuinely low for your area (you can check what your council will allow you by using this calculator if you haven't already done so) then I definitely don't see what the problem is.



If you find somewhere else it could cost them more

alternatively

You get evicted for non-payment of rent and throw yourself at the mercy of the council. As you have a young chid I think they'd have to find somewhere for you, but it could initially be a bedroom in a house with shared facilties (a long-distance friend of mine went through this last year with two young boys). They then found her a house (not sure if council, housing association or private rental) about 3 months later.



But I think you need clarification as to whether this 5 year rule (assuming it is from past ownership) would cause problems with either of the above as well.

jellyhead

It's not your fault.

Lots of people would be in this position when their relationship breaks up - no recent work history and not enough money to pay a deposit/moving costs, or next month's rent.

I haven't worked since my 3 year old was born, I didn't go back when my maternity leave ran out. If for some reason my husband ran off or went to prison then I'd be left with no recent work history and not enough money to pay the mortgage, no childcare sorted so I couldn't go straight into a job - things would take a couple of months to sort out probably.

It could happen to anyone really. You're beating yourself up for staying with your husband instead of leaving him and then being able to work and support your children, pay rent etc. - but you believed him, that's understandable.

Lost.Angry.Confused

When my husband re mortgaged he put the house into both of our names, so we both sold it. The resulting money was put into my account (we don't have a joint account) because he was notoriously bad with money. All bills, food and rent went out of my account.

Lost.Angry.Confused

jellyhead wrote: »

It's not your fault.

Lots of people would be in this position when their relationship breaks up - no recent work history and not enough money to pay a deposit/moving costs, or next month's rent.

I haven't worked since my 3 year old was born, I didn't go back when my maternity leave ran out. If for some reason my husband ran off or went to prison then I'd be left with no recent work history and not enough money to pay the mortgage, no childcare sorted so I couldn't go straight into a job - things would take a couple of months to sort out probably.

It could happen to anyone really. You're beating yourself up for staying with your husband instead of leaving him and then being able to work and support your children, pay rent etc. - but you believed him, that's understandable.

You just started me blubbing again I think I just wanted the whole thing to go away, and even when it came to the final trial he'd convinced me that they'd got it wrong and he'd be coming home..happy endings and all. I mean even this baby wasn't supposed to happen but the Mirena has done a disappearing act- I wouldn't give it up for the world though. I'm due in May, so I've got a lot of things to sort before then.

Does life ever get easier?