Temporary accommodation while looking 15 January at 8:19AM edited 30 November -1 at 12:00AM in House Buying, Renting & Selling 10 replies 445 views

staffie1

Hi All,
I need to complete on the sale of my house, but have found nothing to buy yet.
My mother (council tenant) says I can stay with her until I find something - about 12 wks (hopefully).

She’s not spoken to the council as yet - but is this something they would allow? I expect to pay a contribution towards rent, CT, etc.
My mother is also in receipt of pension credit and some other benefit.

Thanks!

davidmcn

I doubt the council will care about a close family member moving in (whether temporary or not). Is there something in her tenancy agreement suggesting it would be a problem?

ethank

I'm guessing your mum is a long term council tenant and has a secure tenancy. Do check the agreement but secure tenants do need have a legal right to take in a lodger and don’t need their landlord’s consent to do this.

xylophone

Surely you will be your mother's guest?

AdrianC

Three months is pushing the limits of a "guest". It's unlikely to have an impact on your mother's tenancy, but may do on her benefits.

And that's assuming she's not in an age-restricted property. Three months may be optimistic if you haven't found anywhere yet.

Voyager2002

Personally I would rent a room in someone's house (check on a site like Spare Room) rather than rely on family. There is just too much to go wrong with what you propose: above all a fairly elderly person finding her routines disrupted and making her discomfort obvious, meaning that you feel under pressure to buy something quickly, even if it is not suitable...

staffie1

Yes she’s a long term tenant with secure tenancy and there’s nothing in her tenancy or on the council website relating to this - only to tenancy fraud, subletting.

lincroft1710

If she is in receipt of single person discount for Council Tax, then she will no longer be eligible for this while you stay in the property.

xylophone

If she is in receipt of single person discount for Council Tax, then she will no longer be eligible for this while you stay in the property.

Is this the case even for a guest?

davidmcn

xylophone wrote: »

Is this the case even for a guest?

It will be the principal residence of the guest, who'll be staying for an indefinite period - so yes, I expect their occupation is relevant. Different from them just popping up for the weekend.

staffie1

I think it would be best for me to rent somewhere. I don’t want to upset her benefits and then for her to have the hassle of trying to sort it out after I’ve left.