benefits and housing

Tayloriw1

hello a few questions.
my daughter and 2 young boys are renting a 3 bed house ( partner has left the home now ) and she has split with partner.
She works but low income can she claim benefit and stay in 3 bed or does she need to move to a 2 bed ( its in Ely, Cambs area) ?





Thanks in advance

comeandgo

If she can afford to pay the rent you are asking then yes, you can do that but if she will be using benefits to pay for the mortgage on your house then it will not be allowed.

Tayloriw1

the house she rents now is not owned by us, but is 3 bed can she get help i.e. universal credit towards that or does she need to go 2 bed house ?

calcotti

If she claims Benefit she can live in whatever size house she wishes but the amount of help she receives with rent will be capped at the Local Housing Allowance for a two bedroom property. This can be found here https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/

It is possible to claim benefit to pay rent to a relative as long as the relative does not live in the same property. The tenancy has to be on a commercial basis. However there is a risk that the DWP will see it as a contrived tenancy and disallow it. See https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/798300/admf2.pdf paragraph F2140 and following.

WhenIam64

Any explanation for 3 rooms rather than 2 which is what the LHA would allow. Would the third room be available for renting to a third party for example? Or is it needed for overnight stays for say a carer?