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Can you get housing benefit before you actually move into said house?

So my girlfriend and I are recent university graduates and we're currently living in her parent's house. We've both been frantically looking for work but we're unable to find anything. We're feeling like we're intruding a bit on her parents and I really want us to have our own place.

Since I'm currently unable to find work, I'm also working on a side project which is an on-line business (and is actually what I would rather be doing anyway). It doesn't require any outgoing expenditure on my part, but it will take a few months before I start making any income from it, but if I really want it to take off I'll have to be working on it full time from around October onwards.


We've got an appointment tomorrow morning for Job Seeker's Allowance. Is there any way we can pre-emptively apply for Housing Benefit to enable us to also move out from her parents house? Alternatively, if you can't do that - could we just move into a property and file a claim as soon as we moved in? I have around £3,000 in an account to help us get started in that respect.

I'm not looking to become a benefit scrub long term, but some way to keep ourselves supported for the next 3 or 4 months would really make things easier and would mean I can concentrate on what I really want to do.

Comments

  • You could make a pre emptive claim, but they will not process it until they have a copy of the lease.
  • mannaroth
    mannaroth Posts: 84 Forumite
    Are there any risks or drawbacks to doing it this way? How much rent is usually subsidised for a couple living together?

    Also is it worth mentioning to Job Centre tomorrow about my business development idea?
  • There is no risk to doing it, but it won't really achieve a lot - get an application form, get all your evidence together, and then when you have found somewhere to live then submit your application.

    The rate you receive will be the one bedroom rate for your area - you can look this up on your local authority website. They will make deductions from the full rate if you have income over the JSA rate for a couple.

    I would not mention the business development idea, it may cast doubt on whether you are fulfilling your agreement.
  • mannaroth
    mannaroth Posts: 84 Forumite
    One potential problem though - don't landlord normally require proof of income when you rent with them? Which obviously, as I don't have an income, I won't have.
  • Caz3121
    Caz3121 Posts: 15,731 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    mannaroth wrote: »
    One potential problem though - don't landlord normally require proof of income when you rent with them? Which obviously, as I don't have an income, I won't have.

    you will need to find a landlord that will accept people on benefits, this may well restrict your property options as many, for one reason or another, do not
  • BigAunty
    BigAunty Posts: 8,310 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    mannaroth wrote: »
    One potential problem though - don't landlord normally require proof of income when you rent with them? Which obviously, as I don't have an income, I won't have.

    The Shelter website has good info on how a private tenancy operates and how housing benefit works.

    99% of landlords (and few like to accept HB claimants anyway) will not hand over a key until the tenant has paid 1 months rent in advance, and a deposit which is usually the equivalent of a month's rent. The local council will not pay you HB in advance, never does.

    So if you do see a place you like that is within your Local Housing Allowance rate (any extra rent over this, you have to find out of your existing JSA), then you need to figure out how to hand over the equivalent of two months rent to proceed with the tenancy.

    Some councils run deposit guarantee schemes, there might be a DWP loan you can access to rustle up the rent in advance.

    Many landlords who accept HB claimants will demand a guarantor, someone who will pay the rent if you default.
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