Applying for H Benefits w/out rent agreement - Catch 22?!

Pixietrixx

Please help! I am a single parent of a 4yr old. We have altered circumstances. Was living w my mom, but she is moving in w friends because of financial problems. My son and I can share her room w her for a month (2 at the outside). I am on income based JSA. The Catch 22 is - I can't apply for housing and council tax benefits without a tenancy agreement. I can't rent anywhere (to GET a tenancy agreement) without assurance of benefits.I can raise the money for the bond and first month with loans, but that's not good enough for the agents. Surely there must be others in the same position?! What can I do? I have contacted every available source and no-one can offer a solution.

pmlindyloo

Pixietrixx wrote: »

Please help! I am a single parent of a 4yr old. We have altered circumstances. Was living w my mom, but she is moving in w friends because of financial problems. My son and I can share her room w her for a month (2 at the outside). I am on income based JSA. The Catch 22 is - I can't apply for housing and council tax benefits without a tenancy agreement. I can't rent anywhere (to GET a tenancy agreement) without assurance of benefits.I can raise the money for the bond and first month with loans, but that's not good enough for the agents. Surely there must be others in the same position?! What can I do? I have contacted every available source and no-one can offer a solution.

Hi

Have you contacted this organisation?

http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/Housing/HousingOptions/housingoptionsservice.htm

Good luck.

peainapod

I know its a bit crazy the way they do it, you cant apply for the benefit until you've moved in. But if you're on certain benefits then you know that you're entitled to full housing benefit so you can apply after you move in. When I first moved house I couldn't just change address with housing benefit I had to cancel and re claim because I had moved counties. So I rang the agency because I found a great little house, close to family, in a nice place for the children etc, I asked them and they told me no housing benefit. I was gutted but refused to painted with the same brush as everyone else so I rang them back and told them I was coming in, I went in and took a guarantor with me. I told them I had the money for the bond and first month rent and that I've always been a good tenant and that I had brought someone with me who was on a good wage to act as guarantor. They agreed and got my guarantor to sign a bunch of papers (saying he'd pay if I didn't), took copies of his payslips etc and then I moved in with my girls. Don't give up, as long as you can show the agency that you will pay the rent and not end up spending the housing benefit yourself then there's no reason they can't rent to you. At the end of the day they just want their rent money. Good luck with it all, hope you get it sorted out soon