Dependent Parent Housing Benefit

zzzLazyDaisy

I suspect the real situation is that mum has moved in and is struggling to pay her way on her income so OP is looking for ways to maximise the household income and charging mum rent and her claiming HB seemed like one way to do it. To be fair, it is a reasonable enquiry if you don't know the rules - and the rules are not necessarily clear to someone who doesn't understand them, since as we all know, in a different situation renting from a family member would be allowed.

Unfortunately OP your particular circumstances were always likely to be met with a refusal.

Jools12

I started this discussion for support not judgement.

If you have something constructive to say then say it. If all you are capable of is making pathetic judgemental statements about something you have no idea about I pity you

McKneff

First you say she has no income, then you say she has pension credit.

At 66 she will also have a state pension.

If she gives you 50 quid a week for board, she should still have a decent disposable income, which, unless she has debts, is pocket money to her.

She is your mother and your lodger,

Jools12

Last comment was not aimed at you zzzlazydaisy.

Troutwrestler

Would it not depend on whether the property is separate...ie council tax bill of its own etc..otherwise I assume they would class your mother as living with you, which would mean no HB

princessdon

It's simple - if you can prove a commercial tenancy - ie would evict, proof of deposit, landlord checks, signed tenancy, gas/checks, statement from mortgage provider re buy to let change in mortgage etc then you can normally get HB even for a close relative.

BUT - this residence needs to be separate from your own. As nannytone asked earlier, does the annexe have its own door, postal address, council tax charge? If yes then you can look at HB, if not then you can't claim HB to lodge (which is what she is). She will have quite a bit coming in with pension credit though, so can surely help out with your finances.

paddedjohn

OP, is the annexe completely self contained? own kitchen, bathroom, front door etc? have you got permission off the mortgage company? got gas certs?
If your mum cant pay the rent would you be prepared to evict her?

You say that the place has been empty since you moved in 12 months ago, why choose now to charge rent for the place? surely a couple of quid towards the bills would suffice.

shop-to-drop

Did mum help with capital to buy the house?

Housing_Benefit_Officer

And does the planning permission allow the annexe to be rented out commercially.

Jools12

No she didn't help with capital. Thank you to all recent contributors for helping me to try and work this out