housing benifit can i get a better place and pay the difference??

GOOD_BOY_3

hi

i was just woundering if im awarded housing benifit would i be able to get a flat or house that is more expensive than the benifit im awarded and myself pay the difference??

thanks
nicola

CIS

You can do, but the amount they may reduce depending on how suitable the property is (ie if its too big).

GOOD_BOY_3

ok thanks its just i want a nice place and the places ive seen in my price range are dumps.
so for an extra £150 or less i can get a nice place

Chrysalis

they may reward you more, dont assume you will get the same amount, when moving your claim has to be reeavulated.

So lets say you in a bedsit that costs £240 a month in rent, you get £210 housing benefit and you are over 25.

You find a 1 bed flat that costs £375, so you move and the new claim goes in to evalluate they look at your income, number of rooms of property and average rent for area for that sized property and then determine a fair rent. Depending on your income they then deduct some of that fair amount and thats your new entitlement, so your new entitlement could be say £345, of course it could be a lot lower or possibly higher. If you was under 25 you would probably just get bedsit entitlement tho and would unlikely get more then the old claim.

Eager_Elephant

Hi Good Boy,

Just looking at your other post and I note that you have an income of £300 pm, well if £150 would be used to get yourself a nicer flat then that only leaves £150 for utilities, water, c tax (unless these are included), tv licence, insurances, food, clothes.etc.

I know we all try to be frugal but I very much doubt that you would be able to afford to pay all that out for £150.

I understand this might be a rough estimate of rent but I would think very carefully about other household expenditure before taking a flat that would take up most of your income.

I agree that we all want nice places to live but when your income is low sometimes that is not feasable, could you not live in a cheaper place until you turn 25 and then move out to a nicer area.

Remember we all have to start somewhere and that normally means at the bottom and working our way up as we get older.

Sorry if I have offended you with this post.

EE

GOOD_BOY_3

thanks thats fine i like to here all of the points even the bad ones!!

at the end of the day id rather hear it now than not realise and become in debt!!

thanks again

[Deleted User]

As always in this type of case, when you think you might have found a place ask your council for a 'pre-tenancy determination'

Chrysalis

you know I noticed the other week that pre tenancy determination needs landlord approval but claiming actual housing benefit does not, I think they need to change this since people who dont want the landlord to know cant get a pre determination because of this.

GOOD_BOY_3

yes i see what you mean because as soon as i mention benifit they change the way they talk to me and go cold!!

i thought the housing benifit waas paid stright to the landlord anyway so wouldnt they know??

lil_me

I think they can still sometimes pay HB direct to claimant. OUr council didn't request landlord approval etc last time my sister asked for a pre tenancy determination and it wasn't that long ago.

chugalug

You can have HB paid directly to you - you just have to state that in the relevant section of the claim form.