implications of letting friend stay short term without rent

anwm

My friend is going to made homeless soon. We are in the process of buying a property as an investment by cash. She is on very low income so will not be able to afford the rent and she is on the council house waiting list. If we let her stay temporarily for a month or two in the house (provided it is completed on time), what are the implications in terms of council tax and insurance?
We do not want her to be the official occupier of the property as it may affect her position on the council house waiting list.

theartfullodger

Don't. Minefield:

DCFC79

anwm wrote: »

My friend is going to made homeless soon. We are in the process of buying a property as an investment by cash. She is on very low income so will not be able to afford the rent and she is on the council house waiting list. If we let her stay temporarily for a month or two in the house (provided it is completed on time), what are the implications in terms of council tax and insurance?
We do not want her to be the official occupier of the property as it may affect her position on the council house waiting list.

I agree with previous poster.

Just don't, you will thank us. If it turns sour between you 2 it could be a process to have her removed from the property.
What if you let her stay and when it comes for her to leave she chooses not too.

If shes on the waiting list then let the council house her.

agrinnall

Do you mean stay with you as a guest in the house, or stay there as the sole occupier? If the latter then I agree entirely with artful.

Red-Squirrel_2

Could you look into appointing her as a house sitter? You'd have to be incredibly careful about doing it all right and having a written agreement though. The council still might want you to go through a formal eviction before they'll consider her homeless though.

If you want to help her, it might be simpler to just let her crash on your couch for a bit tbh.

shortcrust

Pause and think about what will happen if she has no other options in two months (or three or four or five...). Are you prepared to put her out on the street?

DeeDee87

We have been made homeless before and as a family of four and two dogs at the time. The council will rehome your friend if she is homeless, it wont be that nice if our experience is anything to go by.


Emergency accommodation will be the first so she has some sort of roof over her head, then when suitable temporary accommodation becomes available for her she will have to move to that, and finally when something permanent becomes available she will have a place of her own with the council.


They didn't give us any time scales as its dependant on availability in the area. Sadly it took us 8 moves in almost a year to be given a permanent place suitable to my mums needs ( required a bungalow as she is disabled).


I'm not sure your friends situation would be deemed as much a priority if she has a place to stay, no matter how temporary it is.


I know its hard not to help but it could well be the best for her long term situation with the council if you don't provide a place to stay.


There are all the other problems that others have already stated to consider too.

CIS

anwm wrote: »

My friend is going to made homeless soon. We are in the process of buying a property as an investment by cash. She is on very low income so will not be able to afford the rent and she is on the council house waiting list. If we let her stay temporarily for a month or two in the house (provided it is completed on time), what are the implications in terms of council tax and insurance?
We do not want her to be the official occupier of the property as it may affect her position on the council house waiting list.

For council tax purposes - as she would be using the property as her 'sole or main residence' then she would be liable for the council tax charge on the property as long as she has full access to all of the property.

need_an_answer

The implication could be that your friend starts the agreement as a friend and it ends as anything but...!!!8230;.

anwm

DeeDee87 wrote: »

We have been made homeless before and as a family of four and two dogs at the time. The council will rehome your friend if she is homeless, it wont be that nice if our experience is anything to go by.


Emergency accommodation will be the first so she has some sort of roof over her head, then when suitable temporary accommodation becomes available for her she will have to move to that, and finally when something permanent becomes available she will have a place of her own with the council.


They didn't give us any time scales as its dependant on availability in the area. Sadly it took us 8 moves in almost a year to be given a permanent place suitable to my mums needs ( required a bungalow as she is disabled).


I'm not sure your friends situation would be deemed as much a priority if she has a place to stay, no matter how temporary it is.


I know its hard not to help but it could well be the best for her long term situation with the council if you don't provide a place to stay.


There are all the other problems that others have already stated to consider too.

She has a son so as you imagine will be difficult for her to move from one temporary accommodation to another, not knowing how long it will be.

anwm

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

Could you look into appointing her as a house sitter? You'd have to be incredibly careful about doing it all right and having a written agreement though. The council still might want you to go through a formal eviction before they'll consider her homeless though.

If you want to help her, it might be simpler to just let her crash on your couch for a bit tbh.

After a quick look on Google, it seems a good option. Thanks.