HELP! Housing Benefit hasn't been paid to me yet!!!

Shelldean

dodger1 wrote: »

Not sure what it's like where you live but here it's so much easier to go in and see people at the benefits office. Things seem to get sorted out so much quicker face to face and I have to say the different staff I've seen are very helpful.

You're very lucky our HB has stopped claimants dropping in. we have to make an appointment and they are like doctors receptionists and try and deal with it all over the phone. Our HB dept now has one person we can take papers in for them to copy, so things like pay slips if wages change etc, but they will NOT discuss the claim with us in any shape or form

RBay

MamaMoo wrote: »

Just as an aside, you need to inform your LL you're claiming benefits as it could affect his LL insurance. If you do not inform him, it could render his insurance void.

I don't think this is the case. As a private tennant I was giving the option for the Housing benefit office to NOT contact my landlord and as there is nothing in my tenancy agreement about telling the landlord about my claiming of HB then there is no need to tell them.
I did wonder about this and I did my research.
I am no legal expert but if my claiming of HB affects my landlords insurance then it should have been stated on the tenancy agreement. Which it wasn't.
I am within my right to not tell a soul about my claim.
I just wanted to say this for others that may be reading this thread in a similar situation.

jacques_chirac

RBay wrote: »

I don't think this is the case. As a private tennant I was giving the option for the Housing benefit office to NOT contact my landlord and as there is nothing in my tenancy agreement about telling the landlord about my claiming of HB then there is no need to tell them.
I did wonder about this and I did my research.
I am no legal expert but if my claiming of HB affects my landlords insurance then it should have been stated on the tenancy agreement. Which it wasn't.
I am within my right to not tell a soul about my claim.
I just wanted to say this for others that may be reading this thread in a similar situation.

MamoMoo is correct - your claim could invalidate your LL's insurance. You need to advise him so he can get the appropriate cover. Given that he is being good enough to wait for your rent, I would hope you would repay his goodwill by being honest with him.

stevemLS

I fail entirely to see why the source of the tenants income would have any effect on the landlord's insurance but a quick google seems to say it is a problem. To quote one though, there is no legal obligation to tell your landlord, but they may make it a condition of the tenancy.

In this particular case, I can't quite see why the OP - who says that she has been late with the rent "so many times" now is worried that her landlord will evict her because she is late one more time, due to an error she attributes to the council

RBay

jacques chirac - I never disputed the fact that my HB claim may affect my LL's insurance but it is not in my interest (nor is it a legal requirement) to let him know for reasons I wont go into. Some people don't really like having to claim benefits and I am a proud person. I don't plan on claiming for a long period but, as a self-employed person, the lack of work has forced this situation upon us.
Repaying my LL's goodwill may result in our eviction IF his mortgage or insurance wont allow for HB tenants.

stevemLS - she is a he. Not sure why you would make that assumption?

stevemLS

Beg your pardon - so often people use he where gender is unknown, so I do the opposite! No offence intended, of course.

RBay

stevemLS wrote: »

Beg your pardon - so often people use he where gender is unknown, so I do the opposite! No offence intended, of course.

No offence taken

princessdon

They ask on your insurance do you take SS funded tenants.

If you reply no (because you don't) and fail to inform them, your insurance is void. That is why it's unfair not to disclose to the landlord.

My tenant is shortly to go onto PC and will receive HB, my insurance goes up by £21 for the year.

Dunroamin

RBay wrote: »

jacques chirac - I never disputed the fact that my HB claim may affect my LL's insurance but it is not in my interest (nor is it a legal requirement) to let him know for reasons I wont go into. Some people don't really like having to claim benefits and I am a proud person. I don't plan on claiming for a long period but, as a self-employed person, the lack of work has forced this situation upon us.
Repaying my LL's goodwill may result in our eviction IF his mortgage or insurance wont allow for HB tenants.

stevemLS - she is a he. Not sure why you would make that assumption?

Which selfishness and lack of consideration is one of the reasons LLs don't like renting to benefits claimants. If you're such a proud person, don't pass your misfortune onto others.

RBay

Ok, this thread has derailed slightly.
I came here to ask advice on a matter of concern. I didn't come here to be accused of being selfish and inconsiderate. Not that it is any of your business, but I do have my reasons as to why I don't want my landlord knowing about my financial situation and since it's not a legal requirement to divulge this information, then I am well within my rights not to. If he doesn't want tenants that claim then it should state so on my tenancy agreement.

It's not really fair to judge people on situations that you do not fully understand.

You may think I am being harsh and unfair but I don't really have any other option. And, I do not like coming on a forum asking for help only to be made out as a villain.
If you wish to discuss this topic further I suggest you go and start a new thread regarding the matter.