Housing Benefit questions, confused

sezegg

Hi

Sorry if this has been asked before but I did a search and couldn't find anything.

I'm 25 and on the top rate long term Incapacity Benefit, I'm moving out next week, I found a room for rent in a local terraced house. I do not know the landlord personally but she will be living in the house with me (2 bedrooms) and I will be paying her a monthly amount. Is this allowed ?

Can anyone help me with this? thanks

sarah

hippy-chicy

There should be no problem with this, will you have contract / tenancy between you stating that you will pay X amount per week. The LA may ask a few questions abotu how you found out the property/ room was available - nothign to worry about, just need to make sure that the tenancy is on a commercial basis. Lots of people are lodgers so dont worry.

Remember though that you will be resticted yo the shared room rate of LHA.

Oldernotwiser

hippy-chicy wrote: »

Remember though that you will be resticted yo the shared room rate of LHA.

At 25 and on high rate incapacity? Surely not.

Anyway, that would be the appropriate rate for this sort of accommodation.

sezegg

Hi,

Im signing the contract tomorrow so it will state that I have to pay £240pm. The bit im confused about also is on the housing benefit forms is that it states are there any other adults living with you at the address, would I just put yes, her details (it asks for NI number, does she pay rent etc) and state that she is the landlord or tick no.

Im hoping they will give me £240 as even on the top rate of IB it isnt much to live on for food etc.

(the area is wigan if this helps)

PhlangePhace

sezegg wrote: »

Hi,

Im signing the contract tomorrow so it will state that I have to pay £240pm. The bit im confused about also is on the housing benefit forms is that it states are there any other adults living with you at the address, would I just put yes, her details (it asks for NI number, does she pay rent etc) and state that she is the landlord or tick no.

Im hoping they will give me £240 as even on the top rate of IB it isnt much to live on for food etc.

(the area is wigan if this helps)

Your actual rent equates to £53.38 pw
April 2009 rate for Wigan is £57 for shared accomodation so your benefit will be assessed on an eligible rent of £57pw although there will be a reduction due to your income if your IB is more than £91.80 pw.

hotblu

sezegg wrote: »

Hi

Sorry if this has been asked before but I did a search and couldn't find anything.

I'm 25 and on the top rate long term Incapacity Benefit, I'm moving out next week, I found a room for rent in a local terraced house. I do not know the landlord personally but she will be living in the house with me (2 bedrooms) and I will be paying her a monthly amount. Is this allowed ?

Can anyone help me with this? thanks

sarah

Err, I dont think you can claim any help with Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit. The reason being you cannot live with your landlord and claim those benefits. I don't work in HB or CTB but am a landlord and pretty sure I am right. You may want to check with your local authority before signing and locking yourself into a contract.

Hotblu

Fortis_in_Arduis

I am going to watch this thread, because I am considering moving out of my single accommodation into lodgings and I am on long-term incapacity benefit...

Oldernotwiser

hotblu wrote: »

Err, I dont think you can claim any help with Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit. The reason being you cannot live with your landlord and claim those benefits. I don't work in HB or CTB but am a landlord and pretty sure I am right. You may want to check with your local authority before signing and locking yourself into a contract.

Hotblu

There's no problem in claiming LHA when occupying a property with your landlord unless there's a query over whether this is truly a LL/tenant relationship. In addition, the element of lodgings that covers food/accommodation wouldn't be covered by LHA either.

Many people rent a room in a property where the owner lives as well.

hippy-chicy

I work in HB/CTB and yes you can claim HB if you live with your landlord. As ONW has said unless there is a query over the relationship between the landlord and tenant or the commerciality of the arrangement between them.

They wont be able to claim CTB as not liable for council tax but this is factored into a lodgers rent.

Edit

Just to add that if there is substantial board included in the rent i.e Meals. Then they wont be assessed under the LHA scheme and the rent will be referred to a rent officer to make a decision on the eligible rent that can be covered by HB.

All other charges e.g gas, electricity etc has already been factored when a decision has been made on the shared room rate LHA - There wont be further deductions from this to take these into account.

juliecallum

hippy-chicy wrote: »

I work in HB/CTB and yes you can claim HB if you live with your landlord. As ONW has said unless there is a query over the relationship between the landlord and tenant or the commerciality of the arrangement between them.

They wont be able to claim CTB as not liable for council tax but this is factored into a lodgers rent.

Edit

Just to add that if there is substantial board included in the rent i.e Meals. Then they wont be assessed under the LHA scheme and the rent will be referred to a rent officer to make a decision on the eligible rent that can be covered by HB.

All other charges e.g gas, electricity etc has already been factored when a decision has been made on the shared room rate LHA - There wont be further deductions from this to take these into account.

100% correct, I laso work for H/B, You will get shared room rate of LHA

sezegg

Thats great, thanks for the info. Meals are not covered in the rent so hopefully everything should be ok.

Does anyone know if I put the landlord on my housing benefit forms as I said above? as another adult living in the house.

How long does it normally take to process?

Thanks