Tenency Agreement

maka_2

I have offered a friend of mine a place to live for 6 months as he has been made redundant from full time work (roofer by trade) just so he can get himself sorted he is claiming JSA and asked about help towards rent and he has been told by the benefits office that he can get help even when living with me but i need to get together a tenency agreement can i get one of these free or do i need to get one done correctly?

adg1

Type 'download free AST' into google and follow the link that says tenant docs co uk. There may be one there. I don't know if it will pass through the DSS peoples hands fine. Might be best to join a landlords association and download their AST agreement. Its inexpensive and will cover you better if anything goes awry.

Be very aware of your obligations as a landlord - deposits have to be registered with a government scheme etc as the council will probably want proof that it is done before they pay out to ensure the claim is legit.

socrates

adg1 wrote: »

Type 'download free AST' into google and follow the link that says tenant docs co uk. There may be one there. I don't know if it will pass through the DSS peoples hands fine. Might be best to join a landlords association and download their AST agreement. Its inexpensive and will cover you better if anything goes awry.

Be very aware of your obligations as a landlord - deposits have to be registered with a government scheme etc as the council will probably want proof that it is done before they pay out to ensure the claim is legit.

Deposit does not need to be protected as he is a lodger

maka_2

Thanks for this im not taking a deposit from him its just a one off for 6 months till he gets sorted again

Geenie

socrates wrote: »

Deposit does not need to be protected as he is a lodger

This is the thing. If the LL ie OP is going to be living there as well, then it is a different set up from a normal AST for letting a house out completely. As already suggested, get advice from the various LL Associations online on what should be done, but also be prepared that when dealing with the Benefits people, they start demanding all sorts of hoops to be jumped through before clearing payment.

I know, because a tenant of mine has had to start claiming housing after loosing their job, and it is taking ages to come through, because they keep asking for this or that!

socrates

Geenie wrote: »

This is the thing. If the LL ie OP is going to be living there as well, then it is a different set up from a normal AST for letting a house out completely. As already suggested, get advice from the various LL Associations online on what should be done, but also be prepared that when dealing with the Benefits people, they start demanding all sorts of hoops to be jumped through before clearing payment.

I know, because a tenant of mine has had to start claiming housing after loosing their job, and it is taking ages to come through, because they keep asking for this or that!

I make a point of going along to the Benefits Office with the prospective tenant- and getting them to sign a certain section of the claim - which says I can discuss the claim at any time with HB.

I find out on the day if they are eligible or not.

maka_2

im kind of thinking of not charging rent now i dont have time to go through all this lol

Geenie

Good idea. This tenant though has been in the house for 10 years, so not prospective. But I have no worries as the rent is still being paid. And I know he is actively looking for work and will only claim for as long as he needs to.

Marolb

If the person who owns the house is employed and paying their own rent/mortgage then I thought nobody else (eg tempary lodgers) in that household could claim housing benefit for the same property. Is this not the case ?

mchale

If you go to a Legal Stationary shop, they will sell TAs

socrates

Marolb wrote: »

If the person who owns the house is employed and paying their own rent/mortgage then I thought nobody else (eg tempary lodgers) in that household could claim housing benefit for the same property. Is this not the case ?

The tenant is entitled to claim LHA - Local Housing Allowance which is based on room entitlement related to postcode.

There are thousands of people living as lodgers who claim LHA (HB)