Unannounced visit from a housing benefit officer

Lala2324

Hi. Today someone from the housing benefit came to my house. He already knew my name and wanted to talk to me. I invited him in, he said he wants to check if I live at my address and asked me for a proof of ID. I showed him my passport and then he left without asking me anything else. I asked him why he came to my house for and he said " sooner or later we will be visiting everybody " . Do u think I was reported by some crazy neighbour or it was just a normal visit ?

Thanks in advance

mikey_bach

Why would some crazy neighbour report you ?
Usually they write out and tell you they are doing a visit but it can be unannounced.
If you are worried then ring your LA and speak to housing benefit and get it checked out.....

skylight

Did you check his proof of ID? Ring your housing benefit office to check things out.

RAS

Hi

A lot of Council's are slowly working their way through their entire estate checking that the people to whom they think they are renting are living there.

Because Social Housing is so cheap compared with the open Market, it pays people to rent form the LA and move out, letting the house to someone who pays a lot more for the property as a private let.

In some cases, the supposed renter is getting HB for the property and living off the market rent they collect without paying tax etc.

Even better in London where they can cram one person in every room.

Nick_C

Perfectly normal to make unannounced visits to benefits claimants. Its part of a national scheme called the Verification Framework.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

They made sub letting a criminal offence so it is now worth local authorities checking their tenants are actually resident and not subletting as they can recover profits via the proceeds of crime act.

http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/legal/subletting-social-homes-a-criminal-offence-from-today/6529045.article

It is also normal to check that those who claim help towards their rent are actually resident. Nothing to worry about.

Lala2324

smithy999 wrote: »

Did you ask him for ID?

I really cant remember seeing his badge, I woke up very ill today and my concentration wasn't too good. When he rang the buzzer he already knew my name and sounded genuine. I know i should have though about checking his ID, but unfortunately I didn't.

I was surprised that he did not ask me any questions, he only wanted to check if i am living in my flat..if the name he had on his papers was the same as the name he found in my passport.

Lala2324

blondebubbles wrote: »

I'd get in touch with your LA to be sure it was genuine, especially if you showed them your passport.

I did call and it was genuine. They said it was a residency check.