Buy-to-let mortgage - tenant comming off Housing benefit

Essex_Maid

My OH has a flat, the tenant was on HB etc. Tenant has now found a job. The Housing benefit is paid a month in arrears. When tenant told HB that he had a job, and what would happen re the rent -they advised it would be paid in April. BUT, of course, the payment for April will the the rent for March. So far OH has not been able to get a straight answer from HB office, as to whether they will actually pay the rent for April - eg it comes through in May.

Tenant, will have to work for a month before he gets paid. He has been a good tenant, so want to assist him. But of course OH still has to pay the mortgage for April. So any advice would be appreciated. Not sure if this is the right board to post this on.

thesaint

Your OH should be paid by the council up to the point where the tenant qualified for Housing benefit. Only the council can be more specific than that.
Your OH needs to make the mortgage payments in the meantime, the same way as he/she would if there was a void.

Essex_Maid

Thanks. I just wondered, whether the benefits gave someone extra help when coming off benefits eg Jobseekers provide a fund for "interview clothes". Poor chap is going to be in debt right from the start. Just trying to see if he can claim extra help to tide him over till pay day.

thesaint

There are crisis loans and budgeting loans available from the DWP. They have criteria that have to be met, the tenant should call his jobcentre for details of eligibility.