UC- bills included in rent

huckster

Seen a few example cases recently, where someone renting a room in a house, with a simple contract including bills, being treated as non standard Housing, rather than private rented Housing.  

Due to exceptional circumstances caused by Coronavirus, as long as the amount being paid is modest i.e. Similar to Local Housing Allowance shares room rate/1 bedroom rate, then it might be excepted. This is provided that the rent is paid to someone who is not a member of the family. So you can't claim Housing for living with your Mum and Dad,

Robbie64

The reason why UC are asking for this information is that help with housing costs does not cover certain items such as heating, lighting etc. The costs for these are met from the standard allowance that is paid for day to day expenses. If the landlord can provide a breakdown of how much he includes in the rent for certain items (e.g. the items you mentioned, council tax, electricity, gas ,water) then this will be used to decide how much of the rent is "ineligible", that is how much of the rent UC will not pay for. It is in your interests to get this breakdown as under the old Housing Benefit system there were standard amounts which would be deducted for these ineligible items (listed below). Perhaps under UC a similar system of deductions exists:

Deductions from housing benefit
Service charges for fuel
heating 34.30
hot water 4.00
lighting 2.75
cooking 4.00

Note those are weekly amounts. If there is an equivalent in UC you would need to multiply the above by 52 and divide by 12.

Council Tax too needs to be separated out if a set amount is charged for this, you can claim a rebate from your local council though you would need to register with the council that you live there so that they can bill you for Council Tax.

Out of interest, does the landlord live on the premises or laternatively are you renting a room in a shared house? It's unusual to have the landlord pay all of the bills for, say, a one bedroom flat. It's normal (in my experience anyway) for the tenant to have to assume responsibility for all bills.

calcotti

Some general guidance here https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Eligible-rent-for-Housing-Benefit-and-service-charges

calcotti

Robbie64 said:... under the old Housing Benefit system there were standard amounts which would be deducted for these ineligible items (listed below). 

I am not aware of any default amounts for UC.

macman

OP, is this property an HMO? Where does the LL live? Is it registered as an HMO?
If it's not, then CT is your responsibility, the LL has nothing to do with it and cannot charge you for it on top of your rent.
If you have a valid tenancy, you cannot be evicted in 7 days, that is nonsensical. Only a court can order an eviction, and at present no eviction notices are being granted. Even when that ends, the process typically takes 5 months minimum from the serving of notice.
Such terms would only be enforceable if you were a lodger, not a tenant.