Brother as a lodger - Housing Benefit?

tek-monkey

I have lived with my brother for around 5 years now, in 2 rented places. I am now buying my own house, and intended him to move with me, but he is now unemployed so on housing benefit. Can he still claim if he lives with me at the new place, or would they class that as a contrived tenancy? There is plenty of evidence that we've rented together for a long time, would this go in our favour or do they not care? I keep seeing mention of immediate family, but then some places just count parents/kids but not siblings.

If he can't claim I'll have to let someone else have the room, and they'll have to pay for him to get somewhere else anyway. Seems mad when he already has somewhere to live!

Caz3121

from the Shelter website

I live with other family members - can I claim housing benefit?


If you are renting a home from a family member and they live in the same house, you won't be able to get housing benefit, even if you are paying them rent. A close relative is a:

• husband or wife
• civil partner
• partner
• parent or step-parent
• father-in-law or mother-in-law
• child or step-child
• son-in-law or daughter-in-law
• brother or sister
• brother-in-law or sister-in-law
• partner of any of the above.

tek-monkey

Guess he's out on his ear then, I can't afford to keep him and don't see why I should.

dmg24

tek-monkey wrote: »

Guess he's out on his ear then, I can't afford to keep him and don't see why I should.

Maybe he could find a job, and then pay you rent from his earnings?

Oldernotwiser

tek-monkey wrote: »

Guess he's out on his ear then, I can't afford to keep him and don't see why I should.

And they say that blood is thicker than water!

tek-monkey

He's trying to, but I move in 3 weeks and can't afford to support him. While we rent, most of his share is covered. The tenancy ends on the 27th though, and after that I'll have to support him. Better that he gets his own place instead, let the tax payer cover it. He's paid tax for 12 years, I have for 17, don't see why I should pay for him when there's people not worked a day in their lives claiming it.

tek-monkey

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

And they say that blood is thicker than water!

I can't afford to pay his way, and he has help available if he doesn't live with me. What am I supposed to do?

Oldernotwiser

tek-monkey wrote: »

I can't afford to pay his way, and he has help available if he doesn't live with me. What am I supposed to do?

I understand your situation but you expressed yourself very unfortunately.

tek-monkey

Yeah, suppose I did! Just frustrating, I can understand the reasons behind it, but as we've rented together for so long its obvious its not reallya contrived tenancy. Had to lose his job just as I buy a place!

clb776

tek-monkey wrote: »

He's trying to, but I move in 3 weeks and can't afford to support him. While we rent, most of his share is covered. The tenancy ends on the 27th though, and after that I'll have to support him. Better that he gets his own place instead, let the tax payer cover it. He's paid tax for 12 years, I have for 17, don't see why I should pay for him when there's people not worked a day in their lives claiming it.

totally agree with that!! Not fair at all!

baza52

yeah chuck him out.
he deserves it.