Claiming Housing Benefit - whilst renting from family?

clayts

This should be a completely valid housing benefit claim - a contract exists (tenancy agreement) and your mother does not live in the same house as you.

I think where folks get confused is that housing benefit is not paid when the person claiming is paying rent to a close relative with whom they share the house. That clearly is not the case here.

The Local Authority would look at how long the arrangement had existed - given the fact it's been a few years, then there really shouldn't be an issue.

Go for it

bestpud

luckyNo13 wrote: »

We did own the house for a year before Mum and Dad lived in it, but it was not rented as was being renovated.

It seems silly that will have to rent out the house to someone else and move mum into other rented accommodation and add to her upset just so she can claim housing benefit!

I think that will make a big difference.

I agree, it should be fine.

Bogof_Babe

Won't the OP have to pay tax on the rental received, if it is viewed as a legitimate commercial let?

healy

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

Won't the OP have to pay tax on the rental received, if it is viewed as a legitimate commercial let?

Yes they will have to complete a self-assessment tax return if they dont already.

krisskross

Where did your parents live before they lived iin your house?

feelinggood_2

I might be mistaken, but isn't one thing they look at, how you'd act if there arrears? I thought that it had to be shown that it was a 'real' tenancy, and that action would be taken if rent wasn't paid? I might have misunderstood a previous post on this subject though, but thought I'd raise it incase anyone knows?

real1314

feelinggood wrote: »

I might be mistaken, but isn't one thing they look at, how you'd act if there arrears? I thought that it had to be shown that it was a 'real' tenancy, and that action would be taken if rent wasn't paid? I might have misunderstood a previous post on this subject though, but thought I'd raise it incase anyone knows?

This is true, but do all landlords immediately look to evict if there are arrears?
The fact that arrears are recorded and are required to be paid should provide some degree of satisfaction. The question that has to be answered is what action would be taken of there was no prospect of rent being paid at all - in which case most LLs would look to ask the tenaant to leave / evict them.

Breast_Cancer_Survivor

luckyNo13 wrote: »

A number of years ago we bought a house for my parents to live in

I honestly thought that you were not allowed to do that for HB purposes, sorry if im wrong.

luckyNo13_2

Thanks for all the responses. It looks likely then that she will qualify as long as i explain everything clearly.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

sandi123

Hi, just wondered how you got on, we inherited a house we cannot live in, (stairs) and would like to move our currently unemployed daughter and family (on HB) into the property? Would HB still be payable?

Thanks in advance.
Sandi