How best to describe living arrangements.

jballan

My partner (not married) will be applying for JSA/housing benefits soon as they continue to look for work.

Our living arrangements do not exactly fit into the given classifications and we're wondering how best to describe it come the interview.

My parents took equity from their home to gift us the deposit required for our house on which we pay the mortgage. At the time I was not employed (Though I did have a contract saying I would soon be working, but alas) and we weren't able to put the mortgage under my name so the mortgage is currently under my Mother's name instead.

Mojisola

jballan wrote: »

My partner (not married) will be applying for JSA/housing benefits soon as they continue to look for work.

Our living arrangements do not exactly fit into the given classifications and we're wondering how best to describe it come the interview.

My parents took equity from their home to gift us the deposit required for our house on which we pay the mortgage. At the time I was not employed and we weren't able to put the mortgage under my name so the mortgage is currently under my Mother's name instead.

Your mother can't have gifted you the deposit money if the mortgage is in her name. It sounds as if you live in a home owned by your mother.

jballan

Well, the intention was for it to be gifted, but since we couldn't have it in my name at the time I suppose you are correct.

Mojisola

Do you pay rent?

real1314

You can't claim Housing Benefit under the circumstances you are in.

You either part own the property, through a funding arrangement with your Mother, or you occupy a property owned by your mother under a non-commercial arrangement. :cool:

jballan

We have a standing order since the house was bought which covers the mortgage payments, but this is less than what it would be if we payed the going rate for rent in the area.

That I'm aware commerciability has nothing to do with the amount payed (It needn't be equivalent to local rates), but that we'd need to show evidence of regular payments as agreed. We do have a tenancy agreement in place for the payments we make as well.

bloolagoon

Why are you not looking for work, are you disabled?

jballan

I never said that:

...as they continue to look for work.

My partner's been looking for work for the last two months without claiming hoping we wouldn't need to claim at all.

paddedjohn

jballan wrote: »

We have a standing order since the house was bought which covers the mortgage payments, but this is less than what it would be if we payed the going rate for rent in the area.

That I'm aware commerciability has nothing to do with the amount payed (It needn't be equivalent to local rates), but that we'd need to show evidence of regular payments as agreed. We do have a tenancy agreement in place for the payments we make as well.

If you have a tenancy in place have your parents been paying tax on this income? do you have gas certs in place? do they have a buy to let mortgage?

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Honesty is your best route. Describe the arrangement as in your first post. That you wanted to buy the property but couldn't get the mortgage in your name so instead your parents purchased the house for you and you pay the mortgage instead - that should make it nice and clear.