Lodger's LHA Claim

New_User

About six weeks ago my lodger moved in with her 4 year old daughter.
She went to the council benefits office and gave all the details.
Then my lodger told me the council wanted a letter from me, stating that she would be my lodger.

So I wrote a letter, "To Whom it may Concern" stating that Lucy (and daughter) was my lodger, from her move in date.
I didn't mention the rent level or tax etc. Just kept things simple.

Now Lucy has been paying me the rent no problem.
But I have not heard anything at all from the council / DWP etc.
I asked Lucy about it. She told me the council did ask her to come back to confirm the arrangement and asked her to confirm that we were not living together as a couple.

But is it usual for the council and benefits dept not to contact me at all?

Thanks

thesaint

They don't need to contact you, unless you were a party to her claim, i.e getting direct payment.

Cautious_Optimist

I'm sure you have nothing to worry about.

BUT, I have heard problems about private landlords letting out properties to TENANTS on LHA.
The council pays the tenant the LHA and the tenant pays the landlord...
Then the council decide the LHA should not have been paid after all.
(Either the tenant or the council are at fault).
Then the council claims back their money from THE LANDLORD, even though the landlord has done nothing wrong!

I didn't believe this when I first heard about it.
After all, the police don't go to Tesco and ask for the money back that criminals have spent on their shopping...!!

Kynthia

The tenant is claiming LHA from the council and, apart from needing a contract or letter from yourself confirming the set up, it's not really anything to do with you and that's why you haven't heard anything (not meaning that to sound rude in anyway). It's like if I need my employer to confirm my salary when getting a mortgage, I wouldn't then expect the mortgage company to contact my employer about whether I was successful or not. Your only concern is whether your lodger pays the rent, and if they don't then you can evict them. Where that rent comes from is outside of your contract with them.


I hope you and your lodger have a successful arrangement.

camptownraces

The council, by default, pays LHA to your lodger. It's up to her to pay you.

Council is only likely to contact you if they need to say your lodger has moved out - but you'd have noticed that - or in response to another communication from you. If your lodger should get (8 weeks?) behind with her rent, you could contact council asking for LHA to be paid directly to you.

New_User

Thanks for the replies.
The other thing I wasn't sure about, but haven't checked, is what LHA rate she should be entitled to.
She has one 4 year old daughter.
So would that entitle her to "shared accommodation" rate x2?
Or two bedroom rate?
The local council website doesn't really make it clear.

Thanks.