Can I claim Housing Benefit if I'm a legal co-owner of a property?

Annie1960

Gilganjn wrote: »

I have been a taxpayer for over 20 years. I've been on JSA for 3 months.

So what? That doesn't mean it's OK for you to make a fraudulent claim for HB.

Gilganjn

Annie1960 wrote: »

So what? That doesn't mean it's OK for you to make a fraudulent claim for HB.

I haven't made a fraudulent claim for HB.

Annie1960

Gilganjn wrote: »

I haven't made a fraudulent claim for HB.

You are considering it, that is what this thread is about.

You want people to tell you it's OK to claim HB in your position.

Gilganjn

Annie1960 wrote: »

You are considering it, that is what this thread is about.

You want people to tell you it's OK to claim HB in your position.

I don't want anyone to tell me it's OK, the thread was created to gain information about a subject that I'm not too knowledgeable on, it wasn't created to gain some sort of acceptance from random strangers reading it.

Annisele

Gilganjn wrote: »

My dad gets all the rent because he can't work due to illness. So the rent has always gone to him and I would like it to continue to do so, given his situation. He lives in another country and depends on others because he doesn't drive either. Now it looks like he may divorce from his wife (they've been married 6 years) and that complicates things even further.

So, you know your Dad's situation, and because of that you make allowances. I think you're saying that if he could work, you'd be telling him "hey, I should be getting some of this rent" but since he can't you're happy to support him.

But you're also saying that you've kept your own health situation private. That means he doesn't even have the opportunity to help you in the way you've been helping him - and he might feel quite sad about that if he eventually finds out.

I'm still not entirely sure how you own this house. "Put into three names for tax reasons" could mean all sorts of things, not all of which mean you're entitled to any money from it. I'm not sure you understand your position, which makes it very easy for your family to walk all over you. You can say your piece all you like, but if you don't actually do anything to stand up for yourself you might as well have kept your mouth shut.

I think in your position I'd be trying to work out:

• What do I actually own?
• Am I entitled to a third of the value of the house?
• Could I force a sale? (I don't necessarily mean that you *should* force one, but I think that knowing whether you *could* would help you).
• What do I want to happen? (I.e. Is my priority keeping my father and sister happy, or ensuring that I don't end up destitute or in jail?)
• How can I get what I want to happen to actually happen?

Do you have any paperwork for when the property was put into your name? Do you know who the land registry thinks owns the property? (If you're in England/Wales, it'll cost you £3 to get a copy of the title register showing ownership details). You could maybe take all of that to CAB and see what they say.

Mojisola

Gilganjn wrote: »

Now it looks like he may divorce from his wife (they've been married 6 years) and that complicates things even further.

So your Dad's share of the house might end up split between him and his wife?

Gilganjn

Annisele wrote: »

So, you know your Dad's situation, and because of that you make allowances. I think you're saying that if he could work, you'd be telling him "hey, I should be getting some of this rent" but since he can't you're happy to support him.

But you're also saying that you've kept your own health situation private. That means he doesn't even have the opportunity to help you in the way you've been helping him - and he might feel quite sad about that if he eventually finds out.

I'm still not entirely sure how you own this house. "Put into three names for tax reasons" could mean all sorts of things, not all of which mean you're entitled to any money from it. I'm not sure you understand your position, which makes it very easy for your family to walk all over you. You can say your piece all you like, but if you don't actually do anything to stand up for yourself you might as well have kept your mouth shut.

I think in your position I'd be trying to work out:

• What do I actually own?
• Am I entitled to a third of the value of the house?
• Could I force a sale? (I don't necessarily mean that you *should* force one, but I think that knowing whether you *could* would help you).
• What do I want to happen? (I.e. Is my priority keeping my father and sister happy, or ensuring that I don't end up destitute or in jail?)
• How can I get what I want to happen to actually happen?

Do you have any paperwork for when the property was put into your name? Do you know who the land registry thinks owns the property? (If you're in England/Wales, it'll to get a copy of the title register showing ownership details). You could maybe take all of that to CAB and see what they say.

Thanks for all your advice here, it does make sense. You're right, my position is somewhat unclear. I know that the deeds were changed so that we were all equal co-owners of the house in order to reduce tax costs which, to my understanding, would be in a higher bracket with just a single owner, rather than a number of co-owners. That was advised by a solicitor shortly after my mum passed away. So the deeds (which I haven't seen for many years) have all our names written on them, reflecting the co-ownership. I believe that would mean that we are probably all listed on the land registry but I'm not sure so I'll check that, thanks for the link.

I have been thinking today, perhaps inspired by your words, that it might be a good idea to sell the property and that it would benefit us all at this point in our lives. If we split the revenue between us we could all probably put a deposit down on our own separate houses so we'd all own individual homes. My dad doesn't have his own home over there, the house they bought was put in the wifes name and I believe she paid for it, while my dad spent a great deal on renovation costs for it. So he also will need a place to live. My sister and husband, although they've been comfortable there for so long, have talked about buying their own property a number of times while I've been there so I know deep down they are cognizant of the fact we're all co-owners of the property.

Perhaps it is time to seriously consider selling. If we sold one house we all co-own we could end up with three houses that we all own separately.

Thrugelmir

Gilganjn wrote: »

I think they'd usually have put her in the room I'm in and that sort of sparked off the situation after they realized my presence was preventing them from doing certain things they'd done freely in the past.

Tough on them. Stick it out.

If they want you out, force them to talk about the real issues.

Do what's right. Have principles. You'll be a better person for doing so.

SnooksNJ

Annie1960 wrote: »

But you seem very happy to defraud us taxpayers!

Maybe all the oldest children on this message board should stamp our feet and insist the sister buys the OP out.

Annie1960

SnooksNJ wrote: »

Maybe all the oldest children on this message board should stamp our feet and insist the sister buys the OP out.

I don't really mind whether the OP sells or not, but I do mind when someone is planning to defraud taxpayers' money.

This will lead to a prison sentence, which will cost even more to the taxpayer.