IPA - how much rent is "reasonable"

betchen

peachyprice wrote: »

In which case you don't need to provide a room for her child, you can stay at her house where there is room.

I know, but it's where you draw the line - you could argue that I don't need a flat of my own and should share with other people to keep the costs down. By talking about "reasonable" claims, they leave room for misinterpretation.

Do you know how wide a geographical area they take into account? The postcode, the road, the whole city....For example there are plenty of really cheap places in Leeds but i'd be a bit scared to live there.

Thanks for all your help - Sorry i keep asking questions but while i've found the BR process to be quite black and white, this is the biggest unknown for me

peachyprice

betchen wrote: »

I know, but it's where you draw the line - you could argue that I don't need a flat of my own and should share with other people to keep the costs down. By talking about "reasonable" claims, they leave room for misinterpretation.

Do you know how wide a geographical area they take into account? The postcode, the road, the whole city....For example there are plenty of really cheap places in Leeds but i'd be a bit scared to live there.

Thanks for all your help - Sorry i keep asking questions but while i've found the BR process to be quite black and white, this is the biggest unknown for me

They won't expect you to live in the bad area of town just to save money. The also won't expect you to house share.

You are allowed a normal standard of living, same as any non-BR person in your wage bracket and circimstances.

Just choose the area you want to live and do a comparison between 1 and 2 beds, from experience 1 beds are quite often over priced and you can get a 2 bed for not much more.

Merry_Gentry

No idea how wide an area they take into account, but by your own words you could find somewhere only a couple of miles away for £300 less. If you are on your own, they will expect you to live somewhere that is reasonable cost-wise, and they will not make allowances for you wanting a place that's large enough for occasional visits from your girlfriend and her children.

No one is saying you have to live in a horrid area, or house-share or anything like that - we're simply saying that if you make the choice to rent somewhere big enough for your girlfriend and her children, the OR doesn't have to make allowances for that. S/he only has to allow enough for you to have a reasonable standard of living, which as a single person a one bedroom place is seen as reasonable.

I know it might seem as though we're being down on you, but the reality of the situation is that you want to have a place for your girlfriend's children to sleep, but you don't need one.

Edit: There is nothing stopping you getting the higher priced property and being prepared to pay the extra from yor surplus. So, for example, the OR allows £400 for rent and the additional £300 be disallowed for the purposes of calculating an IPA. So it really is your choice.

Cash_Waster

All I will say is I was lucky. My reciever didn't mind me spending £700 on a 4 bedroom semi after being in a terrace. New baby on the way influenced him and it was only 25% of my monthly outgoings.

As for Leeds, £700pm for a 2 bedroom flat? that has to be stylish city living knowing the prices of stuff over there. A normal 2 bed in a half decent area would be £500 max. Can the reciever say much about it if you are in it? Probably not alot, but if that is stopping you repaying money because you dont have a decent surplus or your rent is 50% of your outgoings then they will be funny about it. Why should you lead the high life while others cant. Thats not being nasty but As someone said, you NEED a one bed flat, you WANT a 2 bed flat. The gamble is yours, but often these flats have service charges ontop which again is an expense they wont like.

Why not go under the radar, spend £600-£700 a month on a three bed semi insteadand chance your arm on a decent family property for grown ups. No added costs and the reciever will think you are a simple person of simple tastes. Get your city flat back in 6 months time once your cash is sorted.

PS personally I would laugh you out of the place, £700 in leeds is taking the !!!! for one persons living costs. I would suggest you be warned, recievers can make life very uncomfortable for people if they want to. They are not fools to be toyed with. They know the markets and conditions very well and what is resonable. Just checked right move, searched 2-4 bed any property between £400-£600 in leeds. 835 matches! 3-4 bed 175! 4bed 26 properties for less than £600 and a few decent areas in there aswell. Its your gamble

peachyprice

Cash_Waster wrote: »

PS personally I would laugh you out of the place, £700 in leeds is taking the !!!! for one persons living costs. I would suggest you be warned, recievers can make life very uncomfortable for people if they want to. They are not fools to be toyed with. They know the markets and conditions very well and what is resonable. Just checked right move, searched 2-4 bed any property between £400-£600 in leeds. 835 matches! 3-4 bed 175! 4bed 26 properties for less than £600 and a few decent areas in there aswell. Its your gamble

Thanks for the insight into Leeds prices CW, Merry and I are down south so it's hard to envisage what is reasonable in other parts of the country.

Where I live £700 would be a so-so flat, £300 would be a right dive :rotfl:

Merry_Gentry

£300 wouldn't get you a garage down here :eek: :eek:

philnicandamy

£300 could buy you a whole street here.....:rolleyes::eek:

peachyprice

philnicandamy wrote: »

£300 could buy you a whole street here.....:rolleyes::eek:

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Cash_Waster

philnicandamy wrote: »

£300 could buy you a whole street here.....:rolleyes::eek:

Same in Leeds

So_Sad_Angel

Hi

CW is right that prices in Leeds do tend to fluctuate & some areas are best to be avoided ...esp if they are to have children living in the accomodation. Some areas of Leeds used to scare me just driving through!! ...love the City though:D

Betchen - have you considered seeing if the letting agents are open to offers on the rental amount?...always worth negotiating .

I would think that bringing the outlay down to below 700 may help your case. If your rent is say 625/650 then if you were already living there then I don`t exect an OR is going it insist you move in order to save c100 a month or so. Also work on the reasons you need to live in this appartment...ie location,near work, low travel costs, family etc etc

Good luck

Angiex