Benefits and housing advice please?

spadoosh

Hi everyone

Wondering if anyone can help me regarding benefits and housing association etc for my g/f's mum.

Potentially going to be really annoying as i dont know a lot of facts, just trying to get some ideas to see how we can help her out.

Essentially the story is that g/f's mum currently lives in a housing association house in yorkshire and is currently trying to get moved closer to us in preston. Shes been bidding on houses for about a year now and seems to be struggling to get anywhere with it. She has recently had operations on her legs and doesnt work as a result as she struggles with mobility shes also 64 (i think!?!?). Shes had doctors letters and reps suggesting the move would be good for her as closer to daughter and could help out more easily. She doesnt require care or anything along those lines and likes to be very independent.

What im trying to establish from this, is her options, regarding renting from council or private. Is her only option council housing (not fussed by this but struggling with availibility and suitability) or is there any chance a council would contribute a certain amount to private rents (of which we have an abundance of suitable accomodation)

Any help much appreciated and appologies again for lack of decent information, will try and answer any questions if i have the info!

dseventy

She could rent privately and claim LHA (Local Housing Allowance) instead of Housing Benefit (for social housing).

But it would be tricky to find a Landlord that accepts people that need to claim benefits to pay the rent. Some do, its not impossible, but will require a huge deposit and perhaps 6 months rent in advance AND/OR a guaranter. She could also be out after 6/12 months.

Its usually not a good idea to give up a secure council tenancy.

Do you work? Could you rent/buy a bigger house and let a room to her?

D70

spadoosh

Brilliant, this gives me something to go off thank you.

6mths rent in advance wouldnt be a problem (we could sort that out) and we could be guarantor. With the 6/12 months are you referring to landlord could easily not extend the rental?

We both work and just bought our first house, has plenty of room for her but she doesnt want to do this, as as far is im aware she'd feel like she was burdoning us. I dont feel like that in anyway and am completely happy for her to move in, though dont think she sees this as an option. bit gutted she makes awesome cakes and is an excellent cook Not to mention how easy it would make alot of things and saving a lot of money!

Do you know of anywhere i can read up on the lodging side of things because if its very viable i will concentrate my efforts on this!?

Aswell back to the private renting how would you find out how much your entitled to on LHA?

Sorry, get really baffled with benefits and housing!

dseventy

spadoosh wrote: »

6mths rent in advance wouldnt be a problem (we could sort that out) and we could be guarantor. With the 6/12 months are you referring to landlord could easily not extend the rental?

Yes, the LL may want to sell the house, might want to convert it, or rent it to a family (more rent income) after the initial 6/12 month period. I am LL have seen this a lot.

spadoosh wrote: »

We both work and just bought our first house, has plenty of room for her but she doesnt want to do this, as as far is im aware she'd feel like she was burdoning us. I dont feel like that in anyway and am completely happy for her to move in, though dont think she sees this as an option. bit gutted she makes awesome cakes and is an excellent cook Not to mention how easy it would make alot of things and saving a lot of money!

Another option could be to lodge with you while on the list?

spadoosh wrote: »

Do you know of anywhere i can read up on the lodging side of things because if its very viable i will concentrate my efforts on this!?
Aswell back to the private renting how would you find out how much your entitled to on LHA?

LHA rents for Liverpool council are here

http://liverpool.gov.uk/benefits-and-grants/housing-benefit/local_housing_allowance/

(If its a different council just google it, they all have it on the web now)


Bare in mind if she has any savings it effect the amount she gets.

D70

Spamfree_2

Has your mother in law looked at advertising a house swop in the area she wants to go to?

spadoosh

Spamfree wrote: »

Has your mother in law looked at advertising a house swop in the area she wants to go to?

Lol, big problem there, no one would want to go to where shes is coming from!

And less of the m-i-l!!:eek:

spadoosh

Cheers again D70

looks like LHA might be out of the question what she would get wouldnt come close enough to covering the cost of private, thought it would give a fair amount to meet the private rent, looking roughly through it she'll be about 20 - 30% short!

Its not absolutely urgent that she moves straight away its just a case of her life would be a lot easier when she does.

hmmm is it worth angry man on phone tactics to local council or does that generally get no where?!?
Its just annoying absolutlely nothing has been achieved in the last 12 months not to mention the amount of flats she's been offered even though they are well aware of her inability to get up and down stairs!! (not ground floor flats either!)

BigAunty

What is the allocations policy for the new area? I don't know how transfers work as opposed to initial applications for housing so take the following info with caution until you check it out.

Many prioritise those with local connections so does she get any points for this? All tend to prioritise those with disabilities/health issues - does the application have this info? Double check her banding.

Is she planning to apply for any sickness, disability benefits?

spadoosh

BigAunty wrote: »

What is the allocations policy for the new area? I don't know how transfers work as opposed to initial applications for housing so take the following info with caution until you check it out.

Many prioritise those with local connections so does she get any points for this? All tend to prioritise those with disabilities/health issues - does the application have this info? Double check her banding.

Is she planning to apply for any sickness, disability benefits?

Shes been claiming DLA i think on and off and income support when not DLA. Shes had a few problems trying to get DLA normally starts by telling her to make her way to their centre which involves 3 bus journeys and 25 minutes of walking (were pretty sure its part of the test, if u make it there in one piece on time they assume u don't need DLA)

Im pretty sure her banding is B (though not 100% though certain she is second most needy/urgent IYKWIM) and i dont think she gets points for knowing us though does for the disability and a very good review from her doctor.

We normally go on the internet at 12 on friday night to bid which she is normally first on then normally ends up going further down the list to about 5/6.

On a few occasions places she has bid on have been put back on for a number of weeks after(this left me angry!!)

lovinituk

dseventy wrote: »

But it would be tricky to find a Landlord that accepts people that need to claim benefits to pay the rent. Some do, its not impossible, but will require a huge deposit and perhaps 6 months rent in advance AND/OR a guaranter.

Our current tenant receives housing benefit and we took the same deposit and rent advance of 1 month as we would do with any tenant. We do have a guarantor for her though.

dseventy wrote: »

or rent it to a family (more rent income) after the initial 6/12 month period. I am LL have seen this a lot.

Surely the rent is based on the property, not how many people live in it? A single person is not likely to rent a house that would be large enough for a family anyway. And if they do, they will soon lose some of their benefits under the new bedroom tax as I understand it.

dseventy

spadoosh wrote: »

hmmm is it worth angry man on phone tactics to local council or does that generally get no where?!?

LHA rates are set centrally for the geographical region, an angry phone call wont get you anywhere (what does your sig say?!).

Someone else will metion discretionary housing payments so I feel should (so google it) but they don't apply in your MIL situation.

Is there some kind of sheltered scheme she could go into? Annexe to your property? When you rely on the state to pay your rent you have to abide by their rules/regs.

D70