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What constitutes 'living in a property'?

I'm not casting aspersions....but i thought council houses were for those who desperately needed somewhere to live....??? or am i wrong??

I know someone who has been given a house (LHA??), she is claiming Council Tax, Housing benefit.....BUT only lives there 'part time'/when she feels bored during the daytime.

she only stays there during the day, she goes to her family home in the evening (eats/sleeps/bathes there).....hence surely she is not in desperate need for a house....?

is she allowed to do this? does the council have rules of what consitutes as 'living' in a house?

I wasn't aware this was permitted..........unless i'm wrong?

as i said - i'm not casting any aspersions...........

Comments

  • I'm not casting aspersions....but i thought council houses were for those who desperately needed somewhere to live....??? or am i wrong??

    I know someone who has been given a house (LHA??), she is claiming Council Tax, Housing benefit.....BUT only lives there 'part time'/when she feels bored during the daytime.

    she only stays there during the day, she goes to her family home in the evening (eats/sleeps/bathes there).....hence surely she is not in desperate need for a house....?

    is she allowed to do this? does the council have rules of what consitutes as 'living' in a house?

    I wasn't aware this was permitted..........unless i'm wrong?

    as i said - i'm not casting any aspersions...........

    Any thoughts??
    Thanks.
  • HappyMJ
    HappyMJ Posts: 21,115 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Any thoughts??
    Thanks.
    It is permitted.
    :footie:
    :p Regular savers earn 6% interest (HSBC, First Direct, M&S) :p Loans cost 2.9% per year (Nationwide) = FREE money. :p
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Exceedingly hard to prove someone is not living in a house, especially in cases like this.
    I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.
  • You dont know the circumstances, person could be a carer for relative !!

    But either way if you are not sure of the facts best to leave alone.

    If genuinely concerned but sure something is a miss/ilegal going on then report, householder can then simply prove they live there etc....
  • chigley
    chigley Posts: 111 Forumite
    Get her reported to the Local Authority and/or Social Housing Landlord. The government is very keen to stop abuse of Social Housing by people like this, as it means the property can be used by someone who has greater needs.
    :TProud to have lived within my means all my life :T
  • Sam____2
    Sam____2 Posts: 711 Forumite
    maybe she works nightshift?
  • Sarah69
    Sarah69 Posts: 478 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    A few years ago i was reported to my council for not living at my house. I spent 1 evening away from it to spend with my mum after my dad had had a serious accident that same day.
  • Macro_3
    Macro_3 Posts: 662 Forumite
    The property only needs to be her main residence, and it's notoriously difficult to prove that someone is not living in a property. Particularly since, in this case, it sounds like she is.
  • puddy
    puddy Posts: 12,709 Forumite
    perhaps she has special needs or phobias which mean she goes to family in the evening?
This discussion has been closed.
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