Rent on house

the_bright_side

Speaking to a few IP’s about my potential SOA and they have all highlighted that the rent I pay for our house is quite high.

We have only just secured this house with a private landlord. Getting a house due to our credit history was difficult enough before potentially going BR

Could the OR make us move?

If so I don’t know how we could, most landlords want credit references, 6 months rent in advance, plus we don’t have any money for moving, I will be paying a large IPA as it is

skylight

What do you say about the house rent? Is it average for the property size for your area and suitable for your needs? If so then there wont be a problem. Of course, if you are renting a 4-bed house in Chelsea when a 1-bed flat is enough for your family unit then yes; they would certainly get the hump!

debtinfo

Yes as skylight says, they dont look at it in absolute monatary terms, they look if the size of the property is realisitic and the rent is in keeping with the local property prices, given that you would be paying a large IPA anyway they are less likely to challange it than if the excessive rent took nearly all the amount that you could pay away, obviously it is difficult to say as it is an indvidual decision by the OR

kepar

No he cannot make you move, but he might only allow the average rent for the area. If that is the case the extra money will have to be found from some of your other allowances. If you are all ready paying an IPA then you could use the spare money you have over, but with the new IPA system you will not have any, so some of your allowances( telephone, holiday etc) will have to be used.

andyf1980

Do you know how much the difference is between what you pay and average Market rent?

the_bright_side

Thank you for the replies.

Problem with using some of the other allowances is that I really then wouldn’t have the money for those allowances, i.e. phone, utilities etc.

We are a family of 5 living in a 5 bed house, which I would say its about £200.00 above the average rent for the area.

I am self employed and use the 5th bedroom as an office, which I would say is essential so could I offset some of the rent as a business expense, is that allowed?

andyf1980

Well as you've only just signed the lease there's nothing they can do in the next 6 months. I think it would definitely be worth setting out your case in terms of the difficulty you would have finding an alternative place to rent in view of your circumstances. You can but ask