Can you lie to landlords?

GwylimT

JeLaw wrote: »

Just out of interest. Would you include freelancers as running a business from home? I've worked from home in the past and have counted as self-employed for HMRC, but it wasn't really a business. It was me freelancing and performing services for various clients and companies, which did sometimes involve working from their premises but sometimes working from home on my laptop.

Also what would you (or your mortgage lender) do if your tenant has to start claiming benefits mid-contract? Anyone can lose their job or become ill. Legally you can't evict someone for that reason and would have to wait for the lease to expire.

OP, I sympathise and really hope you find somewhere. It's not easy being disabled or ill as it is without struggling to find somewhere to live. I'm lucky that I have some savings but know I'd find things so much more difficult if not.

I would suggest asking your council for advice. They almost certainly have long waiting lists for social housing but might be able to help with finding a private landlord who accepts tenants on benefits.

I don't think you'd get away with lying because most landlords will want to see some proof of income.

Yes our developer would consider that a business, I know someone else on the estate was prevented from working at home when contracted by a call centre. My wife did nail art stuff for a while, she wasn't allowed to register the business at our home (we lived in the property before renting it out) despite the fact that she was only doing the nail stuff at clients homes. As I already said if I discovered my tenant was receiving HB I would issue a section 21.

Guest101

GwylimT wrote: »

Yes our developer would consider that a business, I know someone else on the estate was prevented from working at home when contracted by a call centre. My wife did nail art stuff for a while, she wasn't allowed to register the business at our home (we lived in the property before renting it out) despite the fact that she was only doing the nail stuff at clients homes. As I already said if I discovered my tenant was receiving HB I would issue a section 21.

Big difference between working from home and running a business from home.

I think the developer has no clue on this matter, but being a big name, is being believed.

Registering a business there is one things. Performing work from home is quite another. Would having the work blackberry on at home be classed as working?

JeLaw

Guest101 wrote: »

Big difference between working from home and running a business from home.

I think the developer has no clue on this matter, but being a big name, is being believed.

Registering a business there is one things. Performing work from home is quite another. Would having the work blackberry on at home be classed as working?

I agree. Also, a lot of self-employed people and freelancers don't actually work from home, and it's only that their address is used for HMRC when doing tax returns, etc.

GwylimT, I assumed you (and others in your position) would issue a Section 21 if you discovered your tenant was claiming benefits, but you wouldn't actually be able to evict them until the fixed term lease was up. In the meantime you would have a tenant claming benefits.

Summer-Sunshine_2

Don't lie Keeping it ain't worth it and u will have to keep looking over ur shoulder! I wouldn't do it tbh.

silvercar

JeLaw wrote: »

I agree. Also, a lot of self-employed people and freelancers don't actually work from home, and it's only that their address is used for HMRC when doing tax returns, etc.

GwylimT, I assumed you (and others in your position) would issue a Section 21 if you discovered your tenant was claiming benefits, but you wouldn't actually be able to evict them until the fixed term lease was up. In the meantime you would have a tenant claming benefits.

I agree. Also a lot of working tenants claim HB, which may actually be a small amount of the total rent.

Voyager2002

Agents (and most landlords) would ask to see audited accounts from someone who was self-employed...

Your other options are to find someone with a decent salary willing to be your guarantor, or to pay rent well in advance, perhaps three or even six months worth.

Keeping

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Agents (and most landlords) would ask to see audited accounts from someone who was self-employed...

Your other options are to find someone with a decent salary willing to be your guarantor, or to pay rent well in advance, perhaps three or even six months worth.

I can pay upto 3 months rent in advance and I have a letter from the DWP saying that I will receive PIP and ESA until 2024 which is 10 years of guaranteed rent. It isn't like job seekers where I might lose the money for whatever reason.

It's just so frustrating, I will go to my local council and ask them if they have a list of housing benefit approved landlords.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

theartfullodger

Of course you CAN lie: I CAN drive down the m4 @ 123mph (but may not..).

Yeah, go ahead, as long as you are happy for the landlord to lie to you (about rent, neighbours, condition of the place..).

Serious point is that sadly you & many others are being squeezed out by Tory policies and being forced to move elsewhere in the country to areas where property meets your needs (conditions, rent etc etc..).

Good luck, can't be fun...

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

theartfullodger wrote: »

Of course you CAN lie: I CAN drive down the m4 @ 123mph (but may not..).

Yeah, go ahead, as long as you are happy for the landlord to lie to you (about rent, neighbours, condition of the place..).

Serious point is that sadly you & many others are being squeezed out by Tory policies and being forced to move elsewhere in the country to areas where property meets your needs (conditions, rent etc etc..).

Good luck, can't be fun...

The Tories invented supply and demand?! :T

suziqqq

I agree that lying is not the best policy but with most private lets not allowing housing benefit it makes you wonder how those who cannot afford to buy or get social housing manage to get a roof over their heads.