Rent a Room to my own Son?

jamesd

You're not eligible for Housing Benefit when living with a family member. He's also likely to be found ineligible if you convert his living area to a flat just for him, on the grounds that it isn't a commercial arrangement but has been done just to get HB. To be reasonably safe you'd want to demonstrate that you have a history of letting out flats, preferably that specific one.

Convert it to a flat, kick him out so he rents from a different person (without you subsidising it!), rent it out to someone else under an AST for a year and you might have a chance, depending on how tough your local council is. He may be eligible for HB in his rented accommodation.

You might be able to do it by throwing him out and taking in a lodger as well, but that's less likely to work. You'd need to check with your council to find out, after letting the room to someone else, before letting him return.

The converted flat would be ineligible for the Rent a Room scheme because it wouldn't form part of your home. It would just be a normal letting with normal income. That might affect your own eligibility for benefits if you rely on them.

To allow for me to do something similar, providing for a disabled relative who is living with his mother, I'm considering buying a house that's converted into two flats and letting out the flats. Then in a few years he and she can safely move into the independent flats and him be eligible for HB because of the history of letting activity. This way he'd be assured of a decent place to live when she's unable to live in her existing home and has to sell it to provide for her own needs.

PasturesNew

Melissa177 wrote: »

35K a year isn't a huge wage, but it's not a bad one!

It would be a lot to me. And a lot to many others here I bet.
Certainly a lot to be worried about this extra few bob coming in I'd have thought.

[Deleted User]

PasturesNew wrote: »

It would be a lot to me. And a lot to many others here I bet.
Certainly a lot to be worried about this extra few bob coming in I'd have thought.

Most people live to their means, I know people that are on 100k a year and just as skint as every one else after their silly big mortgage on their tiny tiny flat (that theyll soon be in huge negative equity on) and their mercedes car loan has taken its bite.

Im only on a mere 32K, but my investments are burgeoning. I can see myself as richer then those on 100K who invest in bank profits rather then investing..

mjdh1957

affordmylife wrote: »

I know of many people who fraudently claim benefits and I am far from this just exploring a possibility.

This would worry me - if you know people who are claiming fraudulently, why not let the Fraud Department at the DSS know? You can do it anonymously.

affordmylife

I am working on that one! its my own sister and I feel bad about it. There is a situation happening at the moment which is being investigated and I am hoping that mean I wont have it on my conscience but the problem will be dealt with.

aardvaak

What has been said is correct "You can't claim HB if you are living with Parents.

However sometime ago I heard of a couple rather doggy best friends who were living at home but for the purpose of HB etc., they said they lived in each others parents house and said they paid rent to the parents that were not their's.
As far as I know I think they got away with it although in my opinion and I am sure everyone on this list was very doggy and certainly not in the spirit of HB etc. I am sure these two had'nt heard of income tax either.

affordmylife

Yes that makes sense to swap teenagers with someone else - lol. Its a joke really so please dont give me a hard time!

Son will go to college on apprentiseship scheme and get £80 per week for doing that so can support himself (social life expensive t shirts music etc) and Ill pay for everything else.

No housing benefit here. Didnt want to claim it really just didnt want to miss out if it was something that is acceptable.

Rikki

£80 a week is more than some adults get to live on and run a house.

bcljnk

I think you should be asking your son to help out, you may not like taking his money but he will learn that he has to pay his way in life, my daughter started college today, but i wont be taking any money she earns from her part time job, as we still get child benefit for her and tax credits, this is because we earnt just over 9000 last year, we have 5 kids at home, one, my stepson has aspergers, he is 14, taller than me and hard to handle, especially as he is my stepchild, hence his dad has to be home before school, and as near to him coming home from school, which is 4.30.
Yes we get tax credits to top the cash up, but its till isnt anywere near the money you make a year.
I did however say to my DD she would be better off at college, the money she earns is hers, if she didnt go to college, our tax credits and family allowance would stop and we would need her to pay board.
Life with kids is very very hard, we want the best for them, but sometimes i think we need to let them stand on their own 2 feet and learn in life.

affordmylife

Very true Michelle. I have recently lost his maintenance and dont know if I will still get the child benefit but I will ask him for some of his pay so that he gets used to paying his way in the world. I will probably put part of this aside for him as a savings plan so he will have an amount building up for the future the rest I will spend on chocolate!!! I too have five two of which are steps fortunately they are all healthy which does make like easier I know. I work in a special needs school so I am aware of how challenging some children can be. Good luck to you and your family.