We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Housing Benefit - Contrived Tenancy?

24

Comments

  • corbyboy
    corbyboy Posts: 1,169 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    krisskross wrote: »
    I thought only the actual tenants on the rent agreement could purchase under the right to buy scheme. So it matters not who paid the mortgage, your parents actually bought the house/bungalow.

    It does sound a bit dodgy doesn't it. How did his father get a mortgage with no income in the first place?
  • nannytone_2
    nannytone_2 Posts: 12,999 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    corbyboy wrote: »
    It does sound a bit dodgy doesn't it. How did his father get a mortgage with no income in the first place?
    it can be done.
    at one point, my son was going to buy my council house. i had no income but they provisionally offered us a mortgage in both our names. we never went ahead with it, but we could have
  • princessdon
    princessdon Posts: 6,902 Forumite
    edited 28 August 2012 at 10:58AM
    I helped to buy my parents council home in the ninties.

    I put it in their names even though I provided the cash- they raised me, they provided for me, they were my well parents.

    I wouldn't dream of charging them rent!

    If your father wasn't getting HB would you charge him?
  • McKneff wrote: »
    Very little is mentioned of your mother, why is that please

    OP probably used her for spare body parts

    I despair at the way some "people"treat their aging parents
  • nannytone_2
    nannytone_2 Posts: 12,999 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I bought my parents council home in 1992.

    I put it in their names even though I bought it in cash - they raised me, they provided for me, they were my well parents.

    I wouldn't dream of charging them rent!

    If your father wasn't getting HB would you charge him?

    he says he charged them the market rate ... even though their income made them entitled to benefit ... the fact that they were living in the bungalow meant they couldnt receive it ... but he still charged!

    wonder how they managed to eat!
  • McKneff
    McKneff Posts: 38,857 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I bought my parents council home in 1992.

    I put it in their names even though I bought it in cash - they raised me, they provided for me, they were my well parents.

    I wouldn't dream of charging them rent!

    If your father wasn't getting HB would you charge him?

    No offence PD, but I'm presuming that youdidnt actually buy your parents council house, it was in their name because you gave them the money to buy it. But they actually bouhgt it.
    And good for you by the way by giving your parents this gift but its you who is actually going to benefit in the long run when nature takes its course. (hopefully not for a long long time)
    make the most of it, we are only here for the weekend.
    and we will never, ever return.
  • McKneff
    McKneff Posts: 38,857 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I believe if a 'child' has lived in the council house for 12 months or more they are entitled to buy the council house with the other tenants.
    make the most of it, we are only here for the weekend.
    and we will never, ever return.
  • Hamuhu
    Hamuhu Posts: 5 Forumite
    This is turning into a discussion on whether I am a decent SON to my father! Yikes - This was not my intention.

    Let me clear up some points.

    1. My mother still lives with my father in the bungalow
    2. My father WAS on the deeds and HE decided to put the property in my sole name after three years as he had no financial interest per say.
    3. I HATE charging my father rent. BUT HE IS ADAMANT. - Lets just say, I return this rent to him through gifts, Xmas, Bdays, etc…
    4. My father is an OAP and only receives what he deserves from the state after paying so much in. His pension hasn't done him any good whatsoever.
    5. My father WANTS to live in this house as it is suitable for his needs i.e. wet room etc.
    6. HE is happy paying rent.
    7. He is in a position where he CAN claim HB on any other property should he wish but chooses to live at this house.

    So…I really do appreciate all your comments and fully understand the moral dilemmas that may/are/could/should surround this "business transaction".

    All I ask is…."How can the council claim this to be contrived?" when everything is dealt with in a business like manner?

    As a landlord, I have provided my carbon copy of receipts of cash payments, rental statements, AST, GAS SAFE CERT, EPC, ELECTRICAL SAFETY, I can provide receipts for refurbs, new roofs.

    Is this still classed as a contrived tenancy? The law does NOT state that YOU CANNOT let to family.

    Please could we stick to the facts? Again - I understand the issues that people have around this - but please rest assured i am looking after my dad!!
  • princessdon
    princessdon Posts: 6,902 Forumite
    McKneff wrote: »
    No offence PD, but I'm presuming that youdidnt actually buy your parents council house, it was in their name because you gave them the money to buy it. But they actually bouhgt it.
    And good for you by the way by giving your parents this gift but its you who is actually going to benefit in the long run when nature takes its course. (hopefully not for a long long time)

    yeah what I meant was the thought of a mortage didn't enter their heads. I knew they wanted to move (and this would allow them capital) so I sent of a cheque and paid - mum knew and dad didn't.

    He was a "bit miffed" for a week or so, so saw the logic, sold a year later to buy a forever bungalow in a different area with a smaller mortgage. Job done.

    will i get it back? nope not really - I am one of a largeish family but that wasn't the reason. They sacrificed so much for us (as most parents do), I was on really good money - They gave me the money for my first home from board I'd paid - just a case of them putting kids first and them 2nd so I wanted them to move to a bungalow and take advantage of the council rent to buy.

    The issue with this thread is *if* I had my name on the deeds could I ever charge them? not in a million years
  • nannytone_2
    nannytone_2 Posts: 12,999 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    you hate charging your father rent... but he is adamant ....

    nut he wont be paying it will he? the tax payer will.

    so why dont you just tell him that the council have ok'd it and just leave it at that?

    do you really spend over 5k a year on his birthday and xmas pressies?
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.5K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454.1K Spending & Discounts
  • 244.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 600.5K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.4K Life & Family
  • 258.7K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.