Housing benefit

tomy000

I currently live in council housing on Housing Benefit, due to a serious illness i will be currently claiming this until all is clear and im well again, im not lazy and i do want to work and have all the time in the past and i plan on in the future.

But until then i would like to know my rights, i dont want to be in this council property no longer due to noise from a neighbour its making me feel worse and they are a nightmare to live next too, ive put up with it far too long but its driving me nuts.

Ive complained but still it goes on, ive had stuff also poured on my car and im sure its them what done this although i have no proof.

If i rented private would i be allowed too? would Housing Benefit pay for this?

Or would they see me giving up a council home as making myself homeless?

Would i be allowed to rent a private 1 bedroom property or would i only be allowed a bedsit?

I live on my own

karenx

Council rent is far cheaper so when you are well enough to work again will you be able to afford the rent?
Also when you go to rent you may be credit checked and will need a deposit and first months rent up front. You need a signed tenancy agreement before you can apply for housing benefit. You will get the one bed rate if over 25.

Jowo_2

You should think very long about giving up the cheap rent and security of tenure that comes from social housing to go into the expense and security of tenure of private accommodation.

Your local council will have information on their website how to complain about anti social neighbours breaking the terms of their tenancy and how to deal with noise from neighbours. Look into resolving the problems, a mutual exchange and so on. See the Shelter website for info on neighbourhood and noise problems. Chances of getting back into social housing is low, plus the govt are changing the law to make it easier for new social housing tenants to be given short tenancies at close to market rents (not lifetime ones).

If you are under 25 (soon to change to 35), single without dependents and not classed as severely disabled, you will only be entitled to local housing allowance equivalent to a mid range price room in a shared property. The govt is changing the calculations in the future to base them on the bottom third of market rents so LHA is generally declining. See the LHA Direct website to work out your entitlement. Also, look at local property sites for accommodation advertisements - you will soon identify that most landlords do not accept LHA claimants and that LHA doesn't tend to cover the cost of nice accommodation.

What do you mean when you say 'would they see me giving up a council home as making myself homeless'? Intentional homelessness is for people who present themselves as homeless to the local council. If you've found your own private accommodation before you gave up your tenancy, how would this make you homeless? If you had homelessness problems in the future (say for example, your private landlord serves you notice and you can't find anywhere else to live), I don't know how far back a council will look to determine if your decision to quit council accommodation means they have no obligation to help you - Shelter or perhaps another MSE member may know.

Oldernotwiser

Do you realise that you have no security if you rent privately? Many people have to move every 6 months when their lease expires and there's no guarantee that you won't be living next to unpleasant neighbours.

Also, when you do get back to work, private rent will take a much larger slice of your salary than a council place will.

Jowo_2

karenx wrote: »

... You will get the one bed rate if over 25.

This changes to 35 next April. A summary of the huge changes to LHA for private sector tenants is listed here.

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/paying_for_a_home/housing_benefit_and_local_housing_allowance/future_changes_to_local_housing_allowance