Housing Benefit guide Discussion Area

DoIclaim?

We are in our 80s and due to infirmity we are having to sell our house to move into private rented sheltered accomodation. Can we claim Housing Benefit until our house is sold? We get Pension Credit and our savings are aroud £5,000.00.

BigAunty

See the section about property that you own but do not occupy and how capital is calculated. Do enquire with your local council.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/rr2-a-guide-to-housing-benefit/working-it-out/income-and-capital/

DoIclaim?

That is fantastic. I am sure this will be a great relief to them.

cazankev

The housing act 1985: Housing management;26 Financial assistance towards tenants removal expenses. When a tenant moves to another house (whether or not its one of theirs)a)the aithority may pay any expenses of the removal and b)where the tenant is purchasing the house pay any expenses incurred by him in connection with the purchase price,other than the purchase price. An authority may make their payment of expenses subject to conditions. I have to say that rules and regulations do change so please research these things yourselves. Regards caz.

Thomas_Hardy

cazankev wrote: »

The housing act 1985: Housing management;26 Financial assistance towards tenants removal expenses. When a tenant moves to another house (whether or not its one of theirs)a)the aithority may pay any expenses of the removal and b)where the tenant is purchasing the house pay any expenses incurred by him in connection with the purchase price,other than the purchase price. An authority may make their payment of expenses subject to conditions. I have to say that rules and regulations do change so please research these things yourselves. Regards caz.

The key word in that section is *may*. There is no obligation on the LA to do so.

cazankev

I wish I knew more about the laws applied to assured shorthold tenancies,especially for people who have lived in their properties for ten years and over.

cazankev

I am sure that 'may' would be made clear in the subsections but I'm too tired to research it all.

BigAunty

cazankev wrote: »

I wish I knew more about the laws applied to assured shorthold tenancies,especially for people who have lived in their properties for ten years and over.

What laws are these and are you referring to the private sector?

I know that private tenants used to have stronger/longer security of tenure in the past compared with now where most have contracts of less than a year's duration, often 6 months fixed term or periodic tenancies.

However, I don't think that was just 10 years ago but back in early 1997 when the regulations around ASTs changed for private sector tenants.

cazankev

I am lucky my HA has offered to help with the move to a smaller property.

Thomas_Hardy

cazankev wrote: »

I wish I knew more about the laws applied to assured shorthold tenancies,especially for people who have lived in their properties for ten years and over.

Google is your friend ...

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/11603/138289.pdf

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/renting_and_leasehold/private_tenancies/assured_shorthold_tenancies

The fact that you have been there for ten years does not give you greater rights.