Housing Benefit for Mum

Postitnote

Hello everyone

Bit of a long winded post but please go easy on me!

My parents separated some time ago and now my dad has found his own place and cannot afford to pay the mortgage on the house that my mum lives in as well as his own (understandably)

Mum has had a couple of major operations in the last 18 months and may need to have more in the future (she hasn't worked for approx 3yrs).

I'm not sure what benefits she currently claims but if I were to buy a property for her to live in would she be able to claim housing benefit?

If I could afford for her to live there rent free then I would, but unfortunately the money that I would put towards it would come from my savings that are meant to be going towards my house with my girlfriend.

I can live with my girlfriend/elsewhere whilst I build up my savings again so thats not a problem.

Thanks for reading

Breast_Cancer_Survivor

Hi, im not an expert but from what ive heard I wouldn't of thought so as you will be buying the property soley for the purpose of your mum claiming housing benefit.

I think the property must be available for rent to anyone not just family & you have to have a proper tenancy agreement.

cattie

BCD is correct, the tenancy will be a contrived one for the sole purpose of enabling your mother to claim housing benefit on the house.

Wouldn't a better idea be for the house to be sold if she can't afford the mortgage & for her to find a smaller place to buy with any equity?

You don't say how old your mother is but if she is over 50 it may be possible for her to find over 50's or sheltered accomodation through her local council. My council operate such schemes for people with chronic health problems & will accept you on the waiting list even if you own your own property. Usually somebody will come out to access your needs before telling you if you can be accepted on the waiting list.

Postitnote

Ok, thanks for your replies. So what if I make the house available for anyone to rent and my mum happens to be that 'anyone'? Obviously I would ensure a proper tenancy agreement etc would all be in place.

Ames

It's a grey area, and all to do with whether or not it's seen as a 'real' tenancy or just you profiting from the Housing Benefit. Would she not be able to privately rent somewhere and claim HB, it would be a lot simpler. It would probably be best for you to contact your local housing benefit office and get in writing what the situation is.

Macro_3

Ames wrote: »

It's a grey area, and all to do with whether or not it's seen as a 'real' tenancy or just you profiting from the Housing Benefit. Would she not be able to privately rent somewhere and claim HB, it would be a lot simpler. It would probably be best for you to contact your local housing benefit office and get in writing what the situation is.

To insist on the position in writing could be quite damaging. If you bought her the house and had obtained/tried to obtain something in writing before the purchase to say that that your mother would be able to claim housing benefit for a property you had purchased for her, it could support the theory that the tenancy was contrived to claim benefit. The LA may be of the opinion that it demonstrates that the likelihood of your mother obtaining benefit was a deciding factor in the purchase.

All you can do is try it. The LA may well judge the situation to be a contrived tenancy, which would mean at worst that your mother would have to move out and rent elsewhere and you would have to sell the house or rent to someone else. If you cannot afford to run that risk it may be better to look at other options.