Working abroad- council house

xheidi91x

Okay... so i'm in a sticky, unsure of situation!

I have been offered a Job as a teaching assistant in the Dominican Republic- what I've always dreamt of! It's for a year. But I might possibly only stay there for 6 months depending on how well it goes!
I'm only 20 so this is a big step for me, one I don't want to miss!

But... I lived in a hostel for a year and now I have my own flat with the council. I am currently on benefits. But when I work abroad obviously I won't be able to claim anymore, which then means my council tax and rent won't be paid. My sister was thinking of living here for me whilst I am away, as she lives with my mum. But how would that work? She is on benefits too, would she get the rent paid for her? Or would I have to pay because of it being under my name?! I'm stuck- as there's no point in renting out a place I'm not using, but at the same time I don't want to lose what took so long to get!

arghhh... I have to make a decision about this Job within a matter of weeks. Possibly by next week infact! What do I do?!

Oldernotwiser

If you won't be living in it for this length of time you should give it back to the council for someone else to use.

Dave101t

live on benefits or work...hmmm?

vintagebrighton

I'd ask Shelter about this. Your tenancy would be at risk if your flat wasn't your 'only or principal home' but I wouldn't know what that means legally. Obviously you'd only be working abroad for a short period so your flat would remain your 'principal home' but how to pay for it? Your sister couldn't claim benefits there - it's my understanding that you'd be responsible for the rent and council tax. Still, I'd take professional advice as you don't want to return to a whole lot of trouble and homelessness. You also have to take into account that if you work away for a year you are likely to have problems claiming benefits on your return - you'd probably fall foul of the 'habitually resident' rule. You're likely to win any appeal because your intention has always been to return but you could be without money, a job or a home when you first get back. HTH

Falafely

Surely the point of working abroad as a teaching assistant is to expand and improve your career options!?
And, if I'm not mistaken, council houses are for those out of work, vulnerable, at risk or in poverty. As a teaching assistant in the UK I can only assume you will be none of those, so why do you need it?

There is a horrific wait for council houses, probably because people are clinging onto something they're not actually entitled too anymore. Many people are in desperate need of housing, meanwhile you have the opportunity of a life time. Have a think about the people who will never see the other side of the UK let alone Dominican Republic, and then think if you (or your Sister) REALLY need that house.

Sorry to sound harsh. But. If you come back and are in need of housing, you simply join the queue again, although I'm not sure as to why you're so certain you'd need it, having worked for 6 months/1 year in a foreign country as a TA.

poorlittlefish

The "principal home" bit will look at your intention to return. If you can show that the contract is for a set period of time, your flat still has all your furniture in it etc while you're away, you shouldn't lose your home. I've had cases where tenants have gone to prison, but because the prison sentence is for a set period of time and the person would be expected to return to their home after being released, they've been able to keep their tenancies.

The tenancy would remain in your name and for this reason a relative staying there couldn't claim Housing Benefit because they are not the tenant and do not have the legal liability for the rent. That responsibility remains with you and obviously, if you don't set up a direct debit or standing order to cover the payments while you're away then (assuming you don't have a reliable relative to make payments) the Council will take action for non-payment of rent which could result in you being at risk of losing your home. As you are currently in receipt of benefits, you are obliged to notify any changes in your circumstances and your payments will stop when you leave/start work.

You probably have a duty to notify your Council of extended periods of absence. Aside from anything else, it will prevent action being taken against you for abandonment. In the Council I work for, tenants have to notify us if they expect to be away from home for 3 months or more.

If you are up-front about your situation I imagine you will receive sensible advice and won't have any problems while you are away.

ruggedtoast

Falafely wrote: »

Surely the point of working abroad as a teaching assistant is to expand and improve your career options!?
And, if I'm not mistaken, council houses are for those out of work, vulnerable, at risk or in poverty. As a teaching assistant in the UK I can only assume you will be none of those, so why do you need it?

There is a horrific wait for council houses, probably because people are clinging onto something they're not actually entitled too anymore. Many people are in desperate need of housing, meanwhile you have the opportunity of a life time. Have a think about the people who will never see the other side of the UK let alone Dominican Republic, and then think if you (or your Sister) REALLY need that house.

Sorry to sound harsh. But. If you come back and are in need of housing, you simply join the queue again, although I'm not sure as to why you're so certain you'd need it, having worked for 6 months/1 year in a foreign country as a TA.

I dont know what you have heard about ESL, but if you think working as a teaching assistant in a developing country is "the opportunity of a lifetime" then you have been sorely misled.

It's the experience of a lifetime , but it is an experience open to pretty much anyone who is a native speaker of English, has some gumption, and doesnt mind working somewhere with no infrastructure for one dollar an hour (which excludes 99.9% of the population of the developed world). Including people who will "never see the other side of the UK", encumbered as they are by signing on every fortnight and whining that there are no jobs within a ten minute walk of their house.

I would try and hang to your flat OP, if at all possible. You dont know what your situation will be when you return, and I can tell you from experience that this kind of thing on your CV, while being pretty useful in the long term, can make it hard to pick up a job here in the short term.

ognum

I would like to say congratulations on working to get an opportunity to move your self forward You are single and in a council flat and moved from living in a hostel so I think you should be pleased with yourself for looking for this opportunity I can understand how you feel about giving up a home you have tried so hard to get

Can I suggest you ask the citizens advice for help or be up front and ask the council you rent from what the situation would be

Take in the information you have and explain your problem I can imagine you do not have any more mature people to discuss this with do you have a social worker that could help you

I am sorry about the posts there have been we should be encouraging young people to take opportunities that are not offered here in the Uk It would be good for you to have this on your CV it may be hard work and developing countries are not easy to work in but at least you have got out of your comfort zone of benifits etc and tried Well done!

Caveat_Mortgagor

It saddens me that the benefits and welfare system that is supposed to help people in times of need can in fact hold the recipient prisoner and destroy any semblance of ambiton, initiative or progression.

Do you want to get off benefits and out of council housing, or are you going to allow yourself to experience a stockholm syndrome type situation?

The best way out of your situation is to make the decision to leave your current lot behind. Let someone who has a greater need use the flat.

Running_Horse

Knowing someone who works in the sector, this is surprisingly common. But in reality, if the rent is paid and the occupier does not cause any problems then you will probably get away with it. Whether you want to spend your life getting away with it is a matter for you. I know being refused council housing as a young man in London was one of the biggest motivating factors to improve myself. I could have got lucky and spent my life in low paid jobs living on an estate, but was unlucky enough to have to improve my career, get qualifications, and buy a nice house outside London. Time to broaden your horizons and life chances?

CapJ

Caveat_Mortgagor wrote: »

It saddens me that the benefits and welfare system that is supposed to help people in times of need can in fact hold the recipient prisoner and destroy any semblance of ambiton, initiative or progression.

Do you want to get off benefits and out of council housing, or are you going to allow yourself to experience a stockholm syndrome type situation?

The best way out of your situation is to make the decision to leave your current lot behind. Let someone who has a greater need use the flat.

I agree. OP you have to seize the opportunity however small and try to get yourself off the welfare trap of state dependency. I think the key point is having had a year, or even 6 months as a TA in that situation you will be far more of a survivor. It is a difficult opportunity but you will come out much better equipped to meet life's challenges.