entitled to council tax benefit?

spora

Hello,

Im trying to find a room to rent in a houseshare. When i move i will be entitled to housing benefit. I was just wondering if i would also be entitled to council tax benefit?

The reason i ask is that from doing a bit of research i gather that if i live in a houseshare (i havent found anywhere yet, but when i do i wont have met any of the tennets before) that counts as a HMO. This would mean that the landlord is liable to pay to council tax. Most places i have seen include council tax in the rental price. This obviously bumps up the rent by a fair bit.

As the landlord would be (i think) liable to pay the council tax, this means that i wont be entitled to CTB even though the landlord included CT in the rental price (which im assuming they do to cover what they have to pay to council, not because the tennants are liable to pay it).

Am i correct in thinking this? or does it depend on the individual case (for example, could the landlord put the tennants name on the council tax bill so the tennants would therefore be liable rather than the landlord?).

Thanks a lot.

fluffymovie

Hi there

If the property is classed as an HMO, then you would not be liable for Ctax and so wouldn't have an entitlement to CTB.

However, to be considered an HMO is not as simple as just having more than 1 tenant and there are duties and responsibilities with HMO's that don't apply to non HMO's - for example, there must be fire exit signs, emergency lighting etc!

If you were to rent a house such as a 3 bed and be joint tenants, then you could be made liable for the Council Tax jointly and severally liable. You would then all be put on the bill and could receive CTB for your share. However, in this case, you would all need to be on 1 tenancy and if one of the other's didn't pay their part of the bill, any of you could be chased for the bill

CIS

However, to be considered an HMO is not as simple as just having more than 1 tenant and there are duties and responsibilities with HMO's that don't apply to non HMO's - for example, there must be fire exit signs, emergency lighting etc!

An HMO for licenceing can be different to an HMO for council tax purposes, council tax HMO regs are less stringent than planning.

For council tax an HMO is

Houses in multiple occupation, etc Class C a dwelling inhabited by persons who do not constitute a single household, each of whom either-

(a) is a tenant of, or has a licence to occupy, part only of the dwelling or

(b) has a licence to occupy but is not liable (whether alone or jointly with other persons) to pay rent or a licence fee in respect of the dwelling as a whole.