Housing benefit for homeowners

John_Stiles

If you're renting a property and claiming HB, and you own or part own another property but you don't live in it and you're not renting it to anyone, will this affect HB & CTx Ben?

maginot

Yes, as you can't claim any housing benefit if you have more than £16,000.

lin_c_2

In certain circumstances housing benefit can be paid but house you own needs to be on the market for sale. Housing benefit can be paid for a period of 6 months.

maginot

If you have recently inherited a propert etc, then the best thing is. To inform the benefits office of your change in circumstances. They will then tell you your course of action.

John_Stiles

maginot wrote: »

If you have recently inherited a propert etc, then the best thing is. To inform the benefits office of your change in circumstances. They will then tell you your course of action.

When you claim HB they ask if you own property here or abroad. I've always thought that it is because they want to know if you have somewhere to live (and therefore not need to claim nor be eligible for HB). But in my situation I would not live in the property. I would merely own or part own it, and I would not be getting any rental income as I would not be renting it to anyone. It would be occupied, but not by me.

wee_plumb

lin_c wrote: »

In certain circumstances housing benefit can be paid but house you own needs to be on the market for sale. Housing benefit can be paid for a period of 6 months.

I'm under the impression that it could be longer than 6 months. It's at the discretion of the LA.

If the property is struggling to sell and your reasons are valid they may extend this albeit not indefinitely - i would imagine.

John_Stiles

I have no intention whatsoever of selling. It is a property which has not yet been bought, but the person buying it wants to put it in my name, or jointly in my name and someone else's name.

Transformer

They will count it as capital if you do not intend to sell.

John_Stiles

Transformer wrote: »

They will count it as capital if you do not intend to sell.

Is there any legit way around that?

Anubis_2

John_Stiles wrote: »

Is there any legit way around that?

Are you expecting to own a property while not living in it and claim housing benefit for another property?

Emmzi

No, there is no legit way around it. It may be tax evasion or benefit fraud or both. Maybe even money laundering. Nice. Few legit reasons to put it in your name never mind claim benefits.

If it's a gift, just live in it. If it's in your name you can do what you want with it.