Private Renter - Do I HAVE to declare Housing Benefit?

Queen.Bess

Hi All, hope you can help.

My DH and twin DDs are looking to move out of our 2 bed private rented house to somewhere with a bit more space! It's been 8 years since we last moved house and the lettings market has changed rather a lot in that time, not least all these costs for credit checks and references when going through an agent!

Our situation is that I work 30hpw whilst DH is fulltime stay at home dad and when the girls were born last year I applied for Housing benefit and we receive £33.61pw. Not a lot but it really does help.

When I contacted an agent they have asked for my annual salary as this had to be 3 times the annual rent. I said that our household income would meet this requirement so she asked how this was made up, so I said my salary, working and child tax credit and housing benefit. The moment I mentioned this she said they didn't accept this and said they couldn't help us. I was so angry I put the phone down, rather than questioning her.

And since we've been looking on Rightmove and Zoopla and seeing houses we like in the areas we like we then get disheartened when we see 'no housing benefit' or 'no DSS' (how old is that phrase?!).

My question is: As the housing benefit money comes straight to us and not to the landlord (our current agents are not aware we claim HB) and as our annual household income meets this 3 times annual rent calculation, without including the HB income, do I have to declare that we are on HB?

I am so worried we will not be able to move because of receiving this small amount of benefit, but it helps us out so much.

We are hopeful that Gumtree will come to our aid and that hopefully going through a good landlord directly will mean it shouldn't matter.

Any advice gratefully received, with thanks!

Housing_Benefit_Officer

You don't have to tell anyone - and nobody will tell your Landlord or Agent.

Dunroamin

When you provide proof of your income, it will be obvious that part of this is made up of benefits.

Is there any reason why you don't work full time?

Mr_Pitiful

There's no legal requirement to tell them you are in receipt of housing benefit, but if it's asked on your application and you lie or fail to disclose it, the landlord can try and evict you on the grounds that the tenancy was granted by false statement.

[Deleted User]

alot of LLs wont take anybody who has benefit income,simple fact of life

Naf

The LA when we moved just did the income calculation without taking the HB into account. They were happy as long as our other income (they were happy to accept TC) was above the threshold. Just don't mention HB; don't include it in your total income and they'll never know; none of their business anyway, just as long as you pay your rent.