Social Housing and Housing Benefit.

outofmoney

We are currently private renting and get our rent paid in the form of housing benefit.

We are bidding on a council house. Chances are we won't get it but was just wondering what happens regarding rent.

Do we still get housing benefit? Or do they just pay themselves as it were?

Also if we do get HB would it be just for the amount our rent is or the same as they pay for a 4 bed home in our area? (£750 I believe)

viktory

You will still need to apply for HB. No idea how much HB you will get, but as it is social housing the rent is likely to be considerably less than the private sector so HB should cover it in its entirety.

Jowo_2

outofmoney wrote: »

.

Do we still get housing benefit? Or do they just pay themselves as it were?

Also if we do get HB would it be just for the amount our rent is or the same as they pay for a 4 bed home in our area? (£750 I believe)

Social housing landlords receive the housing benefit directly - it's only in the private sector that private tenants receive the local housing allowance first.

And yes, the housing benefit will be based directly upon the rent in the social housing property - you don't get the same level of LHA as in the private sector. You don't get to pocket the difference between the high private sector local housing allowance and the low social housing rent!

outofmoney

Thanks...as long as the rent is covered I don't mind who gets it. Though a bit over would be nice

Prinzessilein

I am in social housing. The rent comes to me - into my bank account, and I have a direct debit set up to pay the Housing Association who control the social housing in this area.

The rent for my social-housing flat is quite a bit lower than the private housing rates. I was previously renting privately and paid about 1/3 as much again as I am now.

And, no, I don't get to keep the difference. (And whilst any extra money would be more than welcome - who wouldn't like a few extre pennies coming in! - I'm certainly not going to moan - I am so blessed to have this little place!)

outofmoney

Thanks. Sounds like it may differ depending on council.

We get our rent covered where we are. But our rent is the same as the HB so no extra

However we need a bigger house so I don't care if we if we got more or not just as long as rent is paid and we all have more space.

Nicklt

I work in social housing and the rents are about 60% of private rates. Generally Housing Association ask for direct payments of HB but you can get it paid to yourself then set up a D.D or SO to pay it.

suelees1

As a basic explanation -

Social housing is both council and housing association property.
Neither come under Local Housing Allowance rules as the rent is seen to be reasonable and is paid under the existing Housing Benefit
scheme.

Council tenants housing benefits is credited directly to their rent account.

Housing Association tenants generally have the HB paid to them and they pay the Housing Association.

For privately rented it is HB but under LHA rules. It's paid directly to tenants who then pay the landord.

Payment to tenants is so that people have more control over their finances.

There are some exceptions to the above being paid directly to the tenant such as if you're seen as vulnerable and/or unable to manage your finances or are >8 weeks in arrears with your rent.

rozmister

outofmoney wrote: »

But our rent is the same as the HB so no extra

You shouldn't get any extra the purpose of HB is to pay for the roof over your heads only. Claiming more than your rent and keeping the difference is fraud.

I don't mean to sound harsh at all but if you need money for stuff other than HB there are benefits to fund this (WTC, CTC, JSA, Income Support, ESA, etc). HB is not to pay for anything other than housing!

Jowo_2

rozmister wrote: »

You shouldn't get any extra the purpose of HB is to pay for the roof over your heads only. Claiming more than your rent and keeping the difference is fraud.

Currently, private tenants whose LHA is greater than their rent can actually legitimately keep the first £15 each week but this is getting scrapped. It was designed to encourage and reward private tenants to find accommodation under their LHA limit.

Wench

If you have a look on your local council website, *somewhere* it tells you what the current allowance is for 1,2,3,4+ bedrooms.