Requesting information as a lodger

Monkeyman1

My parents receive housing benefit, I lived under them as a lodger for 10 years. After this I left and their housing benefit is up for review. They are being told they have to have my new address, my tenancy agreement (which I am not the tennant, my partner is) as proof I have moved out.

I am refusing this as I do not see why I should give information. I am happy to write a letter to say I do not live there but they are not happy with this.

Why do I have to give this information?

midnight_express

You don't have to give them the information. But if you don't it could effect your parents benefit claim.

Monkeyman1

The thing is, the information I.E tenancy is in my partners name, not mine.

I am happy to write a letter to say I do not live there, to sign it. That should be enough.

BigAunty

This is the first time I've ever come across this type of request.

The usual onus is on the claimant themselves to complete forms that detail their circumstances and sign to say that they are true, not for the previous occupant to prove they are now elsewhere.

Are they giving the impression that it will hold up their HB claim? Are they social housing tenants that may be affected by the spare room subsidy policy (whereby housing benefit is reduced for unoccupied rooms?).

Monkeyman1

Sorted. They have said they are happy for me to hand in a signed letter.

Monkeyman1

BigAunty wrote: »

This is the first time I've ever come across this type of request.

The usual onus is on the claimant themselves to complete forms that detail their circumstances and sign to say that they are true, not for the previous occupant to prove they are now elsewhere.

Are they giving the impression that it will hold up their HB claim? Are they social housing tenants that may be affected by the spare room subsidy policy (whereby housing benefit is reduced for unoccupied rooms?).

I thought the same, apparently it is to do with the new rules. They said they wanted to see where I "had gone.." - not that this makes any difference to the claim.

George Orwell..

BigAunty

Monkeyman1 wrote: »

I thought the same, apparently it is to do with the new rules. They said they wanted to see where I "had gone.." - not that this makes any difference to the claim.

George Orwell..

oh, dear me, that sounds like an information step too far.

I know some councils are keen for outgoing tenants (not lodgers who have no direct liability for council tax) to say where they are going and to state who is moving in. I can understand why they try to gather this info to reduce council tax arrears but not track lodgers for HB claim purposes of the actual tenants themselves.

I also can't see why the council who may be identifying social housing properties with empty rooms would need to find out where the occupant had gone, merely just that they had gone....

HB forms insist the claimants notify them of the change of circumstance - they are the responsible party.

Monkeyman1

Exactly, I would have absolutely (and do have no) problem telling them, in letter, that I had gone. The fact they requested documented proof of where I am now has annoyed me, because this has zero bearing on the claim!

Thank's for the replies guys.

fluffymovie

I would disagree with some other posters. Although you may have been a 'lodger;, for HB purposes, you would likely have been considered a Non Dep and therefore, we are entitled to ask where you had moved to.

It may be that you are not on the claim as a lodger and that is what the issue is - I ask for forwarding addresses a lot and have done as it could be that they are moving to another address in the borough which may affect an HB claim there, or in a few cases I have seen, there is no FA and it was a way to avoid the NDD increase. Not suggesting that is the case here but think it's perhaps useful to explain a council's perspective.