Payed rent in cash, now being asked for proof. What to do?

Valid

Hiya

I have recently started receiving SSP. In order to help with my rent I have applied for housing benefit.

My father owns the flat and I have been paying him cash. I received a letter asking me to provide evidence of this. I'm not sure what evidence I can provide for this as it was cash.

My father is exempt from having to fill out tax returns, as the tax office told him the profit was too low for him to have to do it.

Will I be refused benefit because of this?

Many thanks.

tomtom256

Surely you have a rent book thats completed when the rent is collected?
Receive a receipt for proof of payment?
Also I presume you have a legally binding tenancy agreement?

If not then yes you probably will be refused benefit.

Mara69

So you have a tenancy agreement and why on earth did you pay in cash? Can you demonstrate the same sum being withdrawn from your account at the same time each month?

If you cannot prove this is not a contrived tenancy, yes, you'll be refused benefit.

dseventy

You need a tenancy agreement, a rent book and proof of payments.
The LL needs to to gas safety checks, declare the income and hold the deposit in the standard way.

If all this is alien to you, you won't get HB. You also cannot normally get HB if you rent from a family member.

D70

Notmyrealname

Valid wrote: »

My father is exempt from having to fill out tax returns, as the tax office told him the profit was too low for him to have to do it.

Sounds dodgy. If he has a job he can automatically have tax due deducted from his wages through his PAYE code but otherwise he has to fill out a self assessment form, regardless of how much profit there is.

[Deleted User]

Is it just me or isn't there a rule saying you can't claim HB for a property that is owned and rented to you from close family members.

I remember when my aunt got caught renting to her son and was given a warning! or the other way around!

pickpocketlocket

assj wrote: »

Is it just me or isn't there a rule saying you can't claim HB for a property that is owned and rented to you from close family members.

I remember when my aunt got caught renting to her son and was given a warning! or the other way around!

You can rent from a relative, but the LA will look at whether the tenancy is a commercial one, and not contrived for the purposes of claiming benefits. You cannot claim if said relative lives in the house.

[Deleted User]

Oh right I see! OP why don't you just ask for a rent card now, and get him to update it for the past months...

pickpocketlocket

assj wrote: »

Oh right I see! OP why don't you just ask for a rent card now, and get him to update it for the past months...

Because that would be fabricating evidence of a commercial tenancy, and the LA has a habit of knowing when people do that!

Valid

Notmyrealname wrote: »

Sounds dodgy. If he has a job he can automatically have tax due deducted from his wages through his PAYE code but otherwise he has to fill out a self assessment form, regardless of how much profit there is.

Nah, he was told that unless his circumstances changed (i.e. he started charging more) he didnt have to do it anymore. I guess they do this to save on admin costs or something.

He doesn't stay at this address.

It's a legitimate tenancy, I have the agreements and my dad has been registered as a permission to let landlord for quite some time. He had people living here years before I moved in.

I've been staying in this same flat for years, working, not needing housing benefit. It's just now I need the support as I'm on sick pay. So I hope that will go towards showing it's not contrived. It's a real shame that because he's my father it's been an exchange of cash. I never thought that would be a problem because I didn't expect to need benefits. I guess my only hope is bank statements.

Cate1976

If it's a legitimate tenancy then your tenancy agreement and rent book should be enough proof, if not show bank statements showing the cash withdrawals.