Housing benefit question and retired guarantor?

Lily-121

Hello
I have a newborn baby (3 weeks old) and I want to know whether I am entitled to the 2 bedroom housing benefit rate or 1 bedroom rate? So far everyone I know has said 2 bedroom apart from one person who said they thought it was just the 1 bedroom rate?

I am a student and also a single parent which is why I get housing benefit and will pay the remainder from my student loan. I decided to continue with university, I was living in shared but when I gave birth I moved home until I found somewhere. I have been given a month or two time off by the uni and I am trying to find somewhere to live in the mean time (up by the uni) I have found somewhere that will accept providing I can find a guarantor.

My mum doesn't work she is a housewife but my dad does work, however he doesn't earn a big wage and they also rent their home so have been told they aren't suitable. My auntie is in the same situation as them. My auntie needed a guarantor back when she was on housing benefit and my grandmother acted as one for her, however she was working at the time so I am not sure she could act as one for me?

My grandparents are both retired, they are both on state pensions but my granddad also has a private pension. They own their home outright which is worth about 250K. Is it possible they could act as guarantor for a flat that was priced at 630 pcm?

Mojisola

No-one should agree to be a guarantor unless they can pay the rent if you stop paying. Could any of your relatives do that without getting into financial problems themselves?

Lily-121

Mojisola wrote: »

No-one should agree to be a guarantor unless they can pay the rent if you stop paying. Could any of your relatives do that without getting into financial problems themselves?

My grandparents own their home outright so have no mortgage/rent expenses themselves and also own another property which they receive rental income from, so yes they could if it came to it.

Caz3121

Could you offer the landlord 6 months rent upfront instead of having a guarantor (any guarantor will be assessed as having a spare £630 per month to pay your rent if you don't)

owl_lover

Firstly congratulations .
Whether or not your grandparents can act as guarantors will depend on their income. When we were in a similar situation 3x the rent was the required income for the guarantor, not sure if it varies.
In the end, we had a guarantor for some of the amount and paid the rest in advance so this may be an option.
If you have no luck it would be worth a visit to the local council.