Thinking of having my ex as lodger

petunia100

I rent a private property and claim HB and ESA as I am too ill to work. My ex husband who I have been seperated from for 3 years is soon to loose his flat due to it being sold.

I want to know if he can live with me as a lodger without me loosing my benefits. We would be living as individuals seperate rooms etc.

I have thought about having a lodger before but don't like the thought of having a stranger in my house.

specialboy

Are you on drugs?^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

tomtom256

petunia100 wrote: »

I rent a private property and claim HB and ESA as I am too ill to work. My ex husband who I have been seperated from for 3 years is soon to loose his flat due to it being sold.

I want to know if he can live with me as a lodger without me loosing my benefits. We would be living as individuals seperate rooms etc.

I have thought about having a lodger before but don't like the thought of having a stranger in my house.

Are you divorced or are you still married?

If still married DM's may class you as living together for benefit purposes.

Also has he previously lived at the address as your partner?

If you are divorced and he hasn't lived at the address, there shouldn't really be a problem as this setup is becoming the norm in the current financial times.

FBaby

tomtom256 wrote: »

If you are divorced and he hasn't lived at the address, there shouldn't really be a problem as this setup is becoming the norm in the current financial times.

I would say you are less likely to face problems. They might still decide to investigate at anytime as it is not that uncommon that previously married people sharing their lives together again realise that the feelings are still there/back and rekindle the relationship.

pmlindyloo

petunia100 wrote: »

I rent a private property and claim HB and ESA as I am too ill to work. My ex husband who I have been seperated from for 3 years is soon to loose his flat due to it being sold.

I want to know if he can live with me as a lodger without me loosing my benefits. We would be living as individuals seperate rooms etc.

I have thought about having a lodger before but don't like the thought of having a stranger in my house.

As regards the benefits if he moved in as a lodger.

If you receive the single person's discount of council tax this would be lost.

If you receive HB then your local housing allowance may increase as he is entitled to one room.

If you receive contribution based ESA then this would not be affected.

If you receive income based ESA then the first £20 of his rent would be disregarded and then 50% of his rent would be deducted form your ESA. This is based on the fact that he is a boarder rather than a lodger (more money taken for a lodger!) To be classed as a boarder you need to provide breakfast.

As regards his 'status' in your house if you are divorced/legally separated then you should be OK but there may be an investigation to check whether you are living as man and wife.

Some sort of written agreement between the two of you laying out the ground rules for his being a boarder may be a sensible idea - taking a deposit/your providing clean bedding /rules about overnight guests/cupboard for his food. Then if there is an investigation this could be used as evidence.

Have you asked for permission from your landlord?

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Do you have any children with your ex?

TELLIT01

It's actually more common than you might think for couples to formally separate but continue to live in the same property. As long as they can satisfy the visiting officer that they are living separate lives there isn't a problem.
Likewise I wouldn't expect your plan to have your ex living back in the property to be a major issue.
Just be straight about it when the questions are asked.

petunia100

tomtom256 wrote: »

Are you divorced or are you still married?

If still married DM's may class you as living together for benefit purposes.

Also has he previously lived at the address as your partner?

If you are divorced and he hasn't lived at the address, there shouldn't really be a problem as this setup is becoming the norm in the current financial times.

Yes to both of your questions. However thinking of moving to a new house first.

petunia100

Housing_Benefit_Officer wrote: »

Do you have any children with your ex?

Grown up children that live eslewhere.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

petunia100 wrote: »

Grown up children that live eslewhere.

Has your ex partner ever lived with you in the property you currently reside in?