Claiming housing benefit while subletting

Legacy_user

Hi everyone,

Would be very grateful for some advice.

I'll be staying with a friend over the summer and contributing to her rent while I look for a longer-term place to stay.

In the last place I lived I received housing benefit, and ideally I would claim housing benefit again while I'm living with her, as I'm pretty short on money. However, my arrangement with my friend is unofficial - we are not declaring it to her landlord as she is technically speaking not supposed to sublet.

I wonder if I can still claim housing benefit under these circumstances? As I understand it I would need to provide proof that I am liable for rent. Would perhaps providing a letter from my friend, and bank statements showing the rent coming out of my account be enough?

Thanks!

need_an_answer

Why don't you pose your question to the housing benefit officer,they will advise you far more clearly and concisely than an internet forum.

HampshireH

If your staying over the summer amd we are already in the 2nd week of july its hardly worth you putting a claim in.

I assume you intend to be a lodger rather than a sub tenant.

Are you working? Wouldn't it be easier to come to an arrangement over jobs around the house etc for lower room rent. As I say summer doesnt last long so unless this isn't a short term arrangement......

System

Hi - thanks for your reply

I'm a little nervous to pose this to a housing benefit officer - I don't want to get my friend in trouble for essentially renting a room to me without telling her landlord

System

It would mean getting two months worth of housing benefit I think, which for me would be a significant amount. (I'd be living with her from mid-july to mid-september).

NeilCr

So what evidence will you give in support of your claim

For example (not sure whether you are in a UC area or not)

https://www.dover.gov.uk/Benefits/Housing-Benefit/Acceptable-proof/Proof-you-need-to-provide.aspx

System

I'm in Edinburgh which is not using Universal Credit just yet. And yeah, I'm not too sure - I was wondering about this. Perhaps my friend could write them a letter and I could provide bank statements showing the rent coming out of my account?

Pixie5740

Your landlord (your friend) could give you a lodger (common law tenant) contract. Shelter Scotland have an example on here:

https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/__data/assets/file/0005/378689/Sample_Lodger_Agreement.rtf

Some councils, not sure about Edinburgh City Council, ask to see evidence that your landlord's landlord has given your landlord permission to have a lodger before paying out housing benefit.

G_M

This scenario just keeps coming up!


It's a benefits question, not a housing one.


https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5865466/have-been-scammed-by-landlord