Should I accept housing benefit??

siowenson

I am currently trying to get lodgers to help me pay the mortgage and I have just been asked if i would accept housing benefit. Because the person lives in london at the moment and once they come to scotland will be looking for a professional bar job the will obviously be unemployed temporarily.
Is there anything I should be wary of?

Thanks,

Si.

MunnyBoiler

If you accept HB to be paid direct to you, then if HB decides they have overpaid the claimant, they may seek the refund direct from you, even after the tenant has moved out.

As part of the HB claim form, there is a page which you need to sign to accept payment being made direct to you and the conditions attached of doing so. Read this carefully in order to decide whether to go along with this.

siowenson

Hmm, I dont know, it seems a bit strange how she is getting HB when she is moving up here from london. She never mentioned any kids or anything so why should she be entitled to it?

Pssst

Your going to take in a loadger on HB? Have you met the person? do you know anything about them? I'd be very very wary about this. Professional bar job? what you me as in legal or alcohol? Without being disparaging to bar staff,i dont think serving alcohol could be described as a profession.

McKneff

She is telling you she is going to look for a proffessional bar job.
What she will be is a bar maid (possibly on minimum wage) i too would be very wary.

anguk

siowenson wrote: »

Hmm, I dont know, it seems a bit strange how she is getting HB when she is moving up here from london. She never mentioned any kids or anything so why should she be entitled to it?

If she isn't working she will be entitled to housing benefit. Also the way it is paid has changed, it's no longer paid to the landlord, it's paid direct to the claimant so you won't be liable for any overpayment of benefit, she will.

It's up to you wether or not you accept her but just because she's getting housing benefit doesn't automatically mean she'll be a problem, you could get someone who is working who doesn't pay their rent, or what if someone is living with you then loses their job, they'd have to claim housing benefit then?

The only problem I would see is if they're not working they'd perhaps be at home more so maybe using more gas/electric.

siowenson

Some very conflicting views here.

As long as they pay the rent and I cant be held liable for any future overpayments (or whatever its called) then I dont see a problem with it. If she doesn't pay the rent the I will just boot her out. It's my understanding that as long as she is sharing my house and not actually a tennent then I can tell her to leave immediately, no?