Housing benefit

vonnykinsx

Hi, this is my first post! Hope someone can help.
I live in rented accommodation but can't claim housing benefit as 10 years ago my parents transferred there property to me( they didn't want to loose there home if they had to go into care). It is totally there home, always has been and always will be. I have no say in it and get no rent or anything from it which suits me well. I have never lived there and there is no mortgage on the property.
Is there anyway I could take my name off the deeds and put my 14 year old daughters name on them so that I can claim housing help. I find it very hard to make ends meet as a single parent and I do work full time. Thankyou

krustylouise

I'm a single parent and work full time and I'm not entitled to housing benefit. Might not be worth the effort transferring the property to your daughter. Probably errrr off finding out if you're entitled before going through with anything

lika_86

A minor cannot own property. A house could be held on trust for a minor but I doubt that this would get around the problem.

Why did your parents transfer it to you? To avoid having to sell it to pay for care? If so, I suggest you tell them how it's affecting you and ask them to propose a solution.

Dunroamin

vonnykinsx wrote: »

Hi, this is my first post! Hope someone can help.
I live in rented accommodation but can't claim housing benefit as 10 years ago my parents transferred there property to me( they didn't want to loose there home if they had to go into care). It is totally there home, always has been and always will be. I have no say in it and get no rent or anything from it which suits me well. I have never lived there and there is no mortgage on the property.
Is there anyway I could take my name off the deeds and put my 14 year old daughters name on them so that I can claim housing help. I find it very hard to make ends meet as a single parent and I do work full time. Thankyou

If you transfer the property to anyone else this will be considered as deprivation of capital and you'll be assessed as if you still own it. Your parents' attempt to fiddle the system seem to have backfired.

lika_86

Dunroamin wrote: »

If you transfer the property to anyone else this will be considered as deprivation of capital and you'll be assessed as if you still own it. Your parents' attempt to fiddle the system seem to have backfired.

Well, not on them, unless the OP decides to either kick them out or move in!

ognum

What was the aim of the transfer?

You could transfer the home back to your parents but you could face a large Capital Gains Tax bill if the house has increased in value in the last 10 years.

this is a tricky situation because as you are in effect your parents landlord you do need to have all the relevant gas saftey documentation etc.

I do think this is a situation where in the end you may win, you will have a house but unless your parents are wealthy and have an estate greater than the Inheritence Tax level you may end up worse of.

mountainofdebt

Well in order to play the system (and there will be arguments about that until the cows come home and I know my views) it seems that the system has thrown the ball back into your court.

Sorry but it sounds as if you want your cake and eat it.

pigpen

Maybe you should be charging your parents rent that way you can cover your own rent and they will no doubt be eligible for housing benefit to cover anything you charge... unless they have lots in savings.

Dunroamin

ognum wrote: »

What was the aim of the transfer?

You could transfer the home back to your parents but you could face a large Capital Gains Tax bill if the house has increased in value in the last 10 years.

this is a tricky situation because as you are in effect your parents landlord you do need to have all the relevant gas saftey documentation etc.

I do think this is a situation where in the end you may win, you will have a house but unless your parents are wealthy and have an estate greater than the Inheritence Tax level you may end up worse of.

They can do but they'll still be considered to own it for benefit purposes. IHT/CGT are not the point at issue here.

londonsurrey

Charge them rent.

ognum

Dunroamin wrote: »

They can do but they'll still be considered to own it for benefit purposes. IHT/CGT are not the point at issue here.

I simply mentioned them in connection with giving the house back in order to get Housing Benifit, simply to say its not that easy!