close relative ?

makadan

I have had my HB declined as they say I live with a close relative.
The person I rent a room from is child from a previous marrage of my fathers second wife.
the person was never legally adopted by my father, and we never lived together as children. Many years passed without any contact, we only met up again recently. There is no blood tie between us, and as far as I can make our by law, she is not recognised as a 'close relative' can anyone please advise ?

Thank you.

Caz3121

Did you declare the money from the sale of your property? (from another thread) with over £16k in savings there would be no housing benefit paid

Mojisola

How did they know that your LL is "a child from a previous marrage of my fathers second wife"?

makadan

Caz3121 wrote: »

Did you declare the money from the sale of your property? (from another thread) with over £16k in savings there would be no housing benefit paid

No, I don't have over 16k in savings now.

makadan

Mojisola wrote: »

How did they know that your LL is "a child from a previous marrage of my fathers second wife"?

They didn't give any explanation or ask any questions about it. Just said it had been declined as I am living with a ' close relative' I would be interested in what the law regards as close relative, as I don't think it applies in this case.?

GwylimT

makadan wrote: »

No, I don't have over 16k in savings now.

What did you purchase? You spending the money could be seen as a deprivation of an asset.

rogerblack

In general - 'close' does not mean 'I've not seen them for x years' - so is the question 'Is a half-sister a close relative'?

Or have I misread, and the person is wholly unrelated to you.
Could you, for example, marry them.

Mojisola

makadan wrote: »

The person I rent a room from is child from a previous marrage of my fathers second wife.

rogerblack wrote: »

In general - 'close' does not mean 'I've not seen them for x years' - so is the question 'Is a half-sister a close relative'?

Or have I misread, and the person is wholly unrelated to you.
Could you, for example, marry them.

Not even a half-sibling.

makadan - have you asked them for their definition of a close relative and why they think your LL is one?

makadan

Mojisola wrote: »

Not even a half-sibling.

makadan - have you asked them for their definition of a close relative and why they think your LL is one?

No not any blood relation, not a half sister, as I said my fathers second wife's child from her first marrage, if it were a son, yes I could marry them.

makadan

GwylimT wrote: »

What did you purchase? You spending the money could be seen as a deprivation of an asset.

Thank you for your interest, but this isn't anything to do with the realtionship question I posted.

rogerblack

makadan wrote: »

No not any blood relation, not a half sister, as I said my fathers second wife's child from her first marrage, if it were a son, yes I could marry them.

Then they are not - as I understand it - a close relative.
(Also - civil partnerships).

There is the remaining question that while there may be no absolute prohibition on renting from them because they are a 'close relative', the issue of if the tenancy would be commercial remains.
Have they previously rented their property out to anyone?
Would they evict you on non-payment?
Is there a proper legal agreement - or is it being done informally.