Getting Married and Keeping a Council House

Sambella

elsien wrote: »

Sambella, the first part of my answer was a response to your comment about not allowing your father to get married in those circumstances, not to the OP. My reply still stands.

If my father was to enter into an arrangement like this granted I could not stop it but I would much prefer everything was all above board. I would have no objections to it iwhatsoever it was done correctly as I would not want my father getting into trouble. I would want my father to be happy of course.

There would be no real benefit to him from this arrangement. He gains a part time wife who wants (or they both want) to keep her house and benefits.

Surely people get married to be together!







Surely people get married to BE together.

Voyager2002

As posted above, the blushing bride could not legally continue to claim benefits after marriage.If she attempted to do so she would risk prosecution for fraud and possible imprisonment, with all the consequences for her son and her elderly new husband. It is also possible that he might find himself implicated in criminal proceedings.

So: if she stays within the law and notifies "them" of her change of circumstances, her income (including housing benefit) would cease. Her new husband would then be obliged to support her, and would also have to pay the rent on her council house if she were to retain it.

So, if the gentleman were my father I would not attempt to influence his decisions, but I would do my utmost to ensure that he understood the situation and the choices that he would have to make.

Mojisola

orpington_shark wrote: »

My father is 82 years old and has recently started to date someone who is 52.

My dad lives in a large 3 bedroom house on his own. As you would imagine at his age he owns it outright and it is worth over half a million. He is also OK financially with over £100k in the bank.

His partner lives in a council house with her 15year old son. She doesn't work and is on benefits.

Sambella wrote: »

There would be no real benefit to him from this arrangement. He gains a part time wife who wants (or they both want) to keep her house and benefits.

Surely people get married to be together!

Not if your intention is to hang around long enough to inherit a nice sum in the not too distant future without having to do too much to earn it.

Proxima_Centauri

She would be under no obligation to move out of her home, any more than she would if it were owner-occupied. However, if her income increases (which it will if their finances are to be joined together) she would need to let the DWP know, which would mean foregoing her income-related benefits.

WantToBeSE

orpington_shark wrote: »

My dad believes that they can get married, and that his partner can keep her council house

Sambella wrote: »

I wouldn't let my father marry someone who wanted to do that kind of thing.

Who says it's the womans decision? Why is it assumed that she is the person suggesting this?

boliston

Lots of married people have no intention of living together - often people get on far better living apart.

Lily-Rose_3

It does seem a bit odd - and unorthodox, but I can't blame her really, as she probably wants to be sure it works out before giving up her social housing tenancy. Could he not move in with her? Pool their finances, have her claim less benefits? Not give up her social housing? I do wonder - if it comes out that they're married - if she will be in trouble? (For claiming benefits when she has a husband who has money?)

Is your father aware 'Orpington Shark' that when they are married, the new wife/your stepmom will have a claim on the half a million that the property is worth? Could this be why she is marrying him? Maybe..........?

I know a couple (unmarried,) she is 51, he is 43, and they've been a couple since 2010 (known each other since 2005.) She has a little 2 bed housing association house (her 2 kids left 7-8 years ago,) and he lives in a big 5 bed house he owns. (Bought outright 3 years ago...he is quite rich.) She point blank refuses to give up her little home, and says if it goes wrong (like her marriage did 12 years ago,) she will have no home, as the 5 bed house is his.

She works and pays rent on her little house, and claims nothing, but it does seem mad having 2 houses. He has suggested getting married but she keeps saying no. I don't know why, as if she did, and she moved into the big house he has, it would be half hers if they were married. Worst case scenario, she gets half of a £650K house! Not to mention some of his other wealth.

elsien

Has he also thought what it might be like to be sharing a house with a hormonal 15 year old who may not be thrilled at the idea of an 82 year old stepdad?

boliston

Lily-Rose wrote: »

........ I don't know why, as if she did, and she moved into the big house he has, it would be half hers if they were married........

Why would the house be "half hers" if her name is not on the land registry records?

Mojisola

As soon as they get married, she will entitled to inherit from him.

If he doesn't have a will, the intestacy laws will apply. She's in for a good windfall.