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

[Deleted User]

Cate1976 wrote: »

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.

what on earth would cash withdrawals prove?they could have been spent on anything

Cate1976

Rent is £xx per week due on xxxxxday, Op withdraws £XX, pays LL, LL records payment in rent book. Even if Op has withdrawn more money that what the rent is, the important thing is that withdrawals and rent payments were on same day. If OP has withdrawn cash a day or 2 before paying rent, the record of cash withdrawals should still help to prove rent payments. Bank statements used to help back up rent book.

Mistral001

Valid wrote: »

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.

What is meant by this? Who is giving him permission? What is this "register" that he is on? As others have said, if you are paying hime money and have a rent book showing how much you pay then that is all that is needed. Rent books are legal documents and have to be filled in correctly by the landlord.

[Deleted User]

Cate1976 wrote: »

Rent is £xx per week due on xxxxxday, Op withdraws £XX, pays LL, LL records payment in rent book. Even if Op has withdrawn more money that what the rent is, the important thing is that withdrawals and rent payments were on same day. If OP has withdrawn cash a day or 2 before paying rent, the record of cash withdrawals should still help to prove rent payments. Bank statements used to help back up rent book.

but OP has never had a rent book that the problem

Mistral001

woodbine wrote: »

but OP has never had a rent book that the problem

I see. The rent book is a legal document. If the landlord fills it out incorrectly then he could be prosicuted for fraud. That is why authorities take it seriously.

The Op needs to get something from the landlord that the Benefits people will accept. That is the key rather than just proofing that the he pays money to the landlord.

Perhaps if the landlord (father) set something up through an agent that would be acceptable to the authorites. Many estate agents offer this service for a % of the rent fee.

elaine12022

Get your father to write a letter saying how much you pay in rent & how often, and get him to sign it, with the address on. If you do have bank statements that will help. This is how it worked for us, although they did ask for extra information to ensure it wasn't a contrived tenancy.

Valid

afaik landlords have either a permission to let or buy to let agreement with their mortagege provider. I was asked to provide evidence of this, which I will.

Tbh I think I'm screwed. I'm in arrears, money I had saved is gone. Looking back at my bank statements I see that I pay him at irregular dates and in chunks due to the withdrawal limitation at atms. I can provide everything they are asking for except for concrete evidence of the cash I have been giving my dad for the rent.

This is really worrying, I feel helpless. I just need to start thinking of some sort of exit strategy before it gets worse. Like maybe I need to move to another place that isn't owned by my dad.

EDIT: Thanks Elaine, just saw your post. That gives me a glimmer of hope.

fluffymovie

So if I understand this correctly,

- Your Father is your landlord and has let the property previously.

- You will be registered for Council Tax so can claim Council Tax Benefit regardless of rent situation.

- Your Father has given you a tenancy agreement stating rent and date of payment but you have always paid in cash, never had a receipt or rent book and paid at different intervals throughout the month?

Have I understood it all correctly?

If I have, I am sorry to say that I would not pay HB on this claim. We would want to see evidence of rent passing but you have none. It would seem unusual for a landlord to allow a tenant to pay at irregular intervals and would indicate a tenancy that is not being managed at arms length which is a test for us to pay HB.

I am also a bit lost why you would pay him in cash and not set up a regular standing order to his account. If there is a good reason, perhaps this would support your case.

Sorry but as I say, I would not pay HB in this instance and perhaps let a Tribunal make the decision.