Universal Credit- And renting

saima1

Hello everybody im new on here.

I have 3 children oldest is 13 has special needs 2nd child is 8 and 3rd child is 5. I dont work and get Carrers Alowance for looking after my son i also get Child Tax Credit i split up with my partner 3 years ago so im currently single mum. The house i am living in is my ex partners he is named on the deeds and mortgage he pays the mortgage.

My question is that when i go onto Universal Credit which will be soon will i be able to claim rent payments and my ex being the landlord?

Saima

Many thanks

Galloglass

Only if the rental agreement is a commercial one. See Shelter site.
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/housing_benefit_renting_from_family?

Renting from a former partner 

Under universal credit rules, there's no restriction on renting from a former partner as long as it's a genuine commercial agreement.

Under housing benefit rules, you can't claim in either of the following situations:

• you used to live in the home as a couple
• you have a child together who is under 16 and lives with you

poppy12345

saima1 said:

My question is that when i go onto Universal Credit which will be soon will i be able to claim rent payments and my ex being the landlord?

Saima

Many thanks

What makes you think you'll need to claim UC soon? Do you claim housing benefit now?

Mrsn

It’s not clear what the change in circumstances will be for you trigger you needing to claim UC. If you could give a bit more information that would help us point you in the right direction.

saima1

Hi Galloglass

I have have been onto the shelter site the information on there is useful. But what do you mean by commercial agreement?

for some reason i cant reply with a quote as i am new and havent been around for long.

Thanks

sammyjammy

It means do you have a written tenancy agreement, do you pay rent at a commercial rate like anyone else would?

saima1

Hi poppy12345

Most of the ladies at my childrens school say that they have been invited to claim UC so i am thinking i will be as well as one of the ladies was saying UC invite people by area.

Thanks

saima1

Hi Mrsn

Most of the ladies at my childrens school say that they have been invited to claim UC so i am thinking i will be as well as one of the ladies was saying UC invite people by area.

KatrinaWaves

saima1 said:

Hi Galloglass

I have have been onto the shelter site the information on there is useful. But what do you mean by commercial agreement?

for some reason i cant reply with a quote as i am new and havent been around for long.

Thanks

If you are currently paying him rent which is reasonably in line with market rates, then you can claim UC rent help. If he is currently letting you stay there rent free, then you cannot start claiming rent help.
(Im assuming you may not be currently paying as HB wouldnt be payable...this can def cause issues)

calcotti

saima1 said:

Hi poppy12345

Most of the ladies at my childrens school say that they have been invited to claim UC so i am thinking i will be as well as one of the ladies was saying UC invite people by area.

Thanks

Do you live in Harrogate? That is the only area of the country where managed migration started (but as far as I know is still  halted). No one else who is already on benefits is being invited to switch to UC yet. 
Who is inviting these ladies to claim UC?

pmlindyloo

saima1 said:

Hello everybody im new on here.

I have 3 children oldest is 13 has special needs 2nd child is 8 and 3rd child is 5. I dont work and get Carrers Alowance for looking after my son i also get Child Tax Credit i split up with my partner 3 years ago so im currently single mum. The house i am living in is my ex partners he is named on the deeds and mortgage he pays the mortgage.

My question is that when i go onto Universal Credit which will be soon will i be able to claim rent payments and my ex being the landlord?

Saima

Many thanks

Please answer the question about whether you currently claim housing benefit (as an aside are you claiming Income Support?)
From what you have said, so far, there appears to be no reason why you should transfer to Universal Credit.
Have you been living in your ex's house for the last 3 years or is this a recent move?  If the answer is that you have lived there for the last 3 years then we need to know whether you claim HB, have applied and been refused or have not applied for some reason.
I mention this because the rules for Universal Credit can be quite different to the benefits you are on.
Is your ex partner the father of your children?  I ask this because having a commercial agreement (ie a tenancy agreement ) is not the only criteria.  You must not be claiming the housing element of UC in order to gain more benefits.
Basically this means that your landlord (your ex) would be expected to serve notice if you broke your tenancy agreement.  Hence the question about the father of your children.  A father is unlikely to make his children potentially homeless.
Plus, the DWP may want to know how long you have been living in your ex's house and who has been paying the rent (if you don't claim HB already)
So it may not be as straightforward as you would hope.