Questions about leaving property paid for by Housing Benefit to quarantine with elderly relatives

[Deleted User]

Another possibility is to speak to my landlord.  He's cranky and rude, but judged by his behaviour he's really alright.  Totally hands-off.   Also very wealthy.   I've been here many years.   It's not totally impossible that in two or three months time, if I call him, he'll let me off the rent for a few months.    I know that sounds unlikely but based on what I know of him from the many years I've been here, it could be something I'd agree to.  He certainly would hate the alternative of having to refurb and relet the flat in this climate.  Then I'd write to HB and ask if they could freeze my claim (due to no rent being due) and then hopefully they'd unfreeze it later once the crisis was over and rent became due again.

(Calcotti - do you have any thoughts on that?)

By the way the landlord and I are not related in any way and I have lots of documentation surrounding the tenancy, including the written agreement and heaps of emails from over the years.

The main thing is that I don't want to have to claim Universal Credit, as I have my own chronic mental health issues and I'd be scared of the work commitment.   So I really don't want to lose my HB claim.

Finally - about whether my brother tends towards negativity.  When I spoke to him about my worries about losing my flat, he said "Don't worry about your landlord.   Your landlord will probably be dead soon, too!".   But, look, he's working in intensive care in the NHS so I have to defer to his knowledge.

calcotti

Poster_586329 said:

Then I'd write to HB and ask if they could freeze my claim (due to no rent being due) and then hopefully they'd unfreeze it later once the crisis was over and rent became due again.

That is a high risk approach. If you have no rent liability you have no Housing Benefit entitlement and your claim would, I think, close. Unless you are getting a Severe Disability premium in another benefit you will not be able to reclaim Housing Benefit and would have to claim Universal Credit to resume getting help with rent.

What other benefits do you receive? What benefits (if any) do your parents receive?

[Deleted User]

Thanks, Calcotti for your comment.   Yes it would be also be risky because I can't fully predict what my landlord would say about it.  Though in the circumstances (if he's not dead!) I believe he'd have no choice but to accept it.

So, I'll scrap that idea.

What do you think of my idea of getting a taxi back to the flat every 12 weeks?  To spend 3-4 days in the flat.  Which would also give my parents and I a break from each other.

And also how about just not telling the council?   While still doing the taxi thing because I'm sure I'll need appreciate a few days back in my own home, too.

calcotti

Poster_586329 said:

What do you think of my idea of getting a taxi back to the flat every 12 weeks?

And also how about just not telling the council?   While still doing the taxi thing.

I have no opinion on your choice about how you travel backwards and forwards. In terms of the regulations I believe that staying for a few nights in your flat will reset the clock and maintain your HB entitlement.

As regards telling the council - I don't know what the rules require you to do. You could ring the council and simply say that in the present circumstances you may have to be away from your flat for a few weeks and are you required to tell them. The Shelter links provided at the start of this thread say:

"Tell the Council: Tell the housing benefit office that you're going away, the reasons for your absence and when you'll return. You'll continue to receive housing benefit while you're away if it's within the rules."

If you don't tell them and they later find out there may be doubt about the date you left which may complicate matters.

[Deleted User]

Thanks so much for your help, Calcotti.

I'm not in receipt of any other benefits.   I have a small income from self-employment that I will still be able to receive, and I get some financial help from my parents.  So with this I'll be able to pay the utility bills and council tax for my flat.  My parents don't receive any benefits apart from the state pension.

I will have emails from the train company confirming what tickets I've bought.   Of course that doesn't prove that I've actually been on those trains and made the journey, so I could venture to the local cornershop and buy something when I'm back in London.

Honestly, the real thing I'm worried about is the possible death of my parents!   Losing my flat is secondary.   But knowing that I should be alright with it, would set my mind at rest.  It sounds like in the current climate, just not telling the council would be the sensible thing to do.