Compliance officer visit

willie_walsh

My totally blind tenant who is also disabled and on the high rate DLA rents a floor in my house with lounge, bathroom and 2 bedrooms for himself
Until June he lived alone but as he is now unable to care for himself and I was made redundant I moved in. I had no choice really.
He informed the Housing of the change of circumstances who immediately suspended his benefits and as they are months behind they had not stated to process his claim until last week (since 15th June I have had no rent)
Because he is blind and disabled he asked 7 times for a home visit (in writing) and was ignored.
Today (Monday)a compliance officer called from the DWP and started asking him questions about me.Apparantly they sent a letter which arrived on Saturday. There was no one to read it as I was away till today so her visit was a shock. She said he could look at her ID if he wanted!!!!!! She wanted my date of birth, and to know if I owned any more property and other intrusive questions. I claim no benefits. Is it usual to ask questions like this of a landlord? She asked if we ate together and watched tv together. Who did the cleaning (this blind man's hoovering is not the best I'm afraid?).
Why would she ask such questions? He answered but I was angry as I was not there. I am not claiming she came to see him. I find it very intrusive as what on earth has my date of birth got to do with her?
Does anyone have any info on this?

viktory

The DWP are trying to ascertain if there is a relationship between you and your tenant (other than tenant and landlord). This is to ensure that tax payers money is not paid out to fraudulent claims. Out of curiosity, why can't a blind man clean (hoover, wash up, dust, make the bed etc?). My experience is as long as things remain exactly the same a blind person can manoeuvre round a room quite well.

Duncombe

As above - they are trying to establish the relationship between the two of you.

I too would echo what Viktory said. In my experience, being blind does not make you unable to perform day-to-day tasks such as cleaning, preparing food, even vacuuming (albeit not very well!). One of my past clients was physically disabled too and he managed to do all of the above, and more.

willie_walsh

I didn't mean that he couldn't hoover and yes he is as competent as you'd expect when he is well but with all the best will in the world sometimes he misses quite a bit!! and he is often bedridden. I've edited the post!
So what you are telling me is that every landlord who has a tenant on benefits has to give all their personal details to the DWP because they need to establish a relationship? . And what do they do with this information.?
I now have been told that she said that she had written down all he had told her and then said he had to sign it. He couldn't of course read it but signed it. I don't have a good feeling about this at all.
I was really only asking about whether this was usual, waiting months for housing benefit, surprise visits from the DWP and intrusive questions about a landlord.

Duncombe

willie_walsh wrote: »

I didn't mean that he couldn't hoover and yes he is as competent as you'd expect when he is well but with all the best will in the world sometimes he misses quite a bit!! and he is often bedridden. I've edited the post!
So what you are telling me is that every landlord who has a tenant on benefits has to give all their personal details to the DWP because they need to establish a relationship? . And what do they do with this information.?
I now have been told that she said that she had written down all he had told her and then said he had to sign it. He couldn't of course read it but signed it. I don't have a good feeling about this at all.

They require information because there has been a change of circumstances - ie, you moved back in. All this information would have been needed to be given in the original application if you had been living there then.

I understand how ridiculous it is to ask a blind man to sign something, but i wouldn't worry too much about this aspect.

willie_walsh

I didn't actually move 'back' in. I bought the house in 1993 and only lived in it a couple of months myself before my job moved me away. He had rented the whole house since 1993 by himself. When I was made redundant I had to move into the house as i had to leave where I was living and move back to the area to take another job.
So, and I'm finding it a little difficult to get my head round this, the DWP assume that every man that moves into his own house with a resident male tenant is automatically suspected of being in a relationship together..!!!!! and it's up to me to prove otherwise.
And they can do this? I value my privacy and whilst I'm willing to be helpful I don't see why they should be asking questions about me. He is the one claiming benefits not me. What next? They even asked how old my dad was apparantly!!! I have asked why he answered her questions and didn't he think it odd but he said he felt a bit intimidated as she never actually told him why she had come to see him. Kept telling him that if he didn't declare anything he would lose his benefits and could be prosecuted!!! For what? Living in a house with cheap rent, angry landlord and having a terminal illness?

partist

In your opinion, when the DWP have all the facts what will their decision be?

I guess you will say they will restore your tenant's benefits.

If so, I would suggest you put your emotional reaction to the intrusive questioning to one side and do whatever you can to make sure the DWP get all the info they feel they need to reach the right conclusion.

willie_walsh

Thanks Partist. you are right. I am angry, feel badly done to and intruded upon, but when it comes down to it. I won't be losing out. it won't affect me. There's no way that they could imagine a relationship other than what it is. Th cynic in me wonders do these compliance officers get bonuses for every person they reduce benefits for!!!!!!!?

flashnazia

I must admit, landlord moving in with tenant does seem odd to me.

You should be pleased that the dwp are showing due diligence. I assume you pay tax and don't want your contribution wasted. Can you imagine the abuse that could take place if situations like this weren't looked into?

Duncombe

Willie - I think you have the wrong end of the stick. They are not wanting to establish if there is a physical/sexual relationship between the two of you (why would you assume this?!) just find out exactly what has changed in the circumstances regarding both your living arrangments.

The word relationship is a very broad term. If you are landlord and tennant, then this only need to be explained to them. If you are indeed in a physical/sexual/emotional relationship, then this would also need to be explained to them.

I can see no real invasion of privacy - just a company doing its job effeciently.

I can understand your concerns given that your tennant is blind and would have to take their word for granted as he is unable to read letters for himself. But surely you still have the letters sent to you and can read them now?

Partist is right - if you feel really hard done by, contact the DWP and express your concerns.

willie_walsh

Odd? I had to take possession of my house because I was made redundant from a job 200 miles away and myself had nowhere to live. The tenant of the past 15 years developed a terminal illness during this time and went totally blind.
So it's odd is it that I didn't do what I should have and evicted him.
Thought at least I'd have the rent from him on rentaroom till I got myself back on my feet.

Also I never said sexual relationship, DWP class a shared household as a relationship apparently. Because I offered to help care for him, (hindsights a great thing, wish I had it), that means that it can not be classed as each living independently so it's a shared household. I spoke with the DWP today as suggested.
Oh well. Seeings as how he can hoover and clean etc I'll take my flat in the house back, rent it out for a decent rent and let him find a new place to live.
Thanks for the help everyone. I might be a soft touch apparently but mug I'm not going to be. And morals about chucking out a blind disabled man. Doesn't pay the mortgage does it?