PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.

We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

Renting a mobile home

I am writing on behalf of a friend who does not have access to a computer.

She is in her late 60's and working part time. She rents a mobile home on a protected site and has done so for approximately 15 months. As her retirement is looming she has completed a DWP form for assistance with rent as her only income will be the basic state pension. The form requests she either enclose her original contract or a letter from the site landlord confirming she pays rent to him. As it is difficult to speak with the LL she popped a very polite note in his letter box asking if he would be kind enough to supply her with a letter confirming she is a tenant and pays rent. She has her bank statements confirming her payments. She failed to receive any response.

Some weeks later she managed to speak with the LL and his response was that she was giving him a real headache over this request and that he was able to give people notice. She took this as a threat and now is reluctant to proceed further with her application. I have checked the Shelter website and not sure I completely understand the rights for people renting mobile homes.

P.S. Unfortunately she has never received a contract from the LL.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

With thanks.

Comments

  • pmlindyloo
    pmlindyloo Posts: 13,062 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 27 October 2013 at 12:45PM
    First of all even though she has not got a written agreement she has a tenancy because she has being paying rent.

    As regards being evicted by the landlord if you look at this link

    http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/renting_and_leasehold/mobile _home_tenancies

    and click on 'protected sites' you will see that she has got rights if the landlord tried to evict her. He would have to go to court to evict her and the court has powers to prevent that eviction if they choose to for up to 12 months.

    She mustn't worry about this aspect and she can always give Shelter a call if the landlord starts harassing her.

    As regards benefits. If she is only receiving a state pension then it is possible that she is eligible for Guarantee Pension Credit. This would give her automatic entitlement to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction and would be dealt with by Pension Credits. She can apply for Pension Credit up to 4 months before she becomes eligible so I would urge her to do this.

    See here:

    https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit

    I also believe that she should enquire about any pitch fees etc that she has to pay to be included in her housing benefit claim.

    As regards proving that she has a tenancy agreement then I am sure that when her HB claim is being dealt with she will be able to produce her bank statements showing her rent/pitch fees etc being deducted.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 346.7K Banking & Borrowing
  • 251.4K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 451.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 238.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 614.3K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 174.8K Life & Family
  • 252.1K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.