Can my brother live in my council flat if I leave the country for a few months?

osulljohn

Hi,

I'm a council tenant, I work full time, pay my rent myself (not claiming any benefits).

I may be leaving the country for a few months so I'm wondering if my brother could live in my flat while I'm away? Has anyone had any experience of this?

AlexMac

No experience, and probably against the terms of your tenancy agreement...

... but as he is family, and as the Audit Commission estimated in 2012 that a fifth of all social housing was illegally sub-let on long-term tenancies, it's unlikely any one will do anything about it in practice. So unless you have an active landlord or have p155ed off the neighbours to the point where they grass you up, you'll probably get away with it.

And while this "tenancy fraud" has got worse since 2012;
http://blog.housingpartners.co.uk/detail/the-staggering-scale-and-impact-of-tenancy-fraud

...it's arguably unfair to condemn it as much more morally reprehensible than the sell-off of Council houses from 1980 and the subsequent failure to build enough social homes for rent; but that's one for the polemic sister forum to this one?

need_an_answer

Define "a few months" some tenancies will allow the property to be empty whilst you are away,but the question is how long is reasonable.

davidmcn

If it really is just "a few" months then even if this amounts to a breach of the tenancy, chances are the OP will be back before the council notices and does anything about it, never mind goes through any legal procedure.

Cakeguts

The bit I don't understand about this is why someone needs a council house if they have somewhere they can live in another country? Surely that amounts to tenancy fraud by claiming that you are homeless when in fact you are not because you have a home in a different country?

Pixie5740

Cakeguts wrote: »

The bit I don't understand about this is why someone needs a council house if they have somewhere they can live in another country? Surely that amounts to tenancy fraud by claiming that you are homeless when in fact you are not because you have a home in a different country?

All kinds of people are eligible for social housing not just those who are homeless.

McKneff

Cakeguts wrote: »

The bit I don't understand about this is why someone needs a council house if they have somewhere they can live in another country? Surely that amounts to tenancy fraud by claiming that you are homeless when in fact you are not because you have a home in a different country?

The op could be going overseas to work a contract for a few months
Or something similar.

spadoosh

Cakeguts wrote: »

The bit I don't understand about this is why someone needs a council house if they have somewhere they can live in another country? Surely that amounts to tenancy fraud by claiming that you are homeless when in fact you are not because you have a home in a different country?

Well thats extreme.

You cant afford to rent a property? Have you tried in eritrea?

You didnt think when you wrote that, did you?

Cakeguts

spadoosh wrote: »

Well thats extreme.

You cant afford to rent a property? Have you tried in eritrea?

You didnt think when you wrote that, did you?

Not really. I am pretty certain that if I went to my local council and said that I have a home in another country but I am homeless in the UK that I wouldn't get a council house.


Doesn't the information that comes from the council with the granting of a secure tenancy give the rules on how long you can leave the house emptly and the rules on subletting?

Cakeguts

McKneff wrote: »

The op could be going overseas to work a contract for a few months
Or something similar.

I agree but if you can get work overseas surely you can also contact your local council about leaving your council property empty while you are away and find out what the rules are rather than asking about them on a forum like this?

davidmcn

Cakeguts wrote: »

The bit I don't understand about this is why someone needs a council house if they have somewhere they can live in another country? Surely that amounts to tenancy fraud by claiming that you are homeless when in fact you are not because you have a home in a different country?

The OP didn't say they have a home in another country or have claimed to be homeless anywhere.