What options for someone on housing benefit & unable to find a home

onearmbandit

Hi everyone.
I am looking for some information regarding a situation my partner is in. Simply put, she is on benefits due to being a carer for her son (he is autistic and due to school hours, the need to be dropped of picked up she is unable to work). She has rented a property for 7 years and never missed a payment.

Due to her landlord wanting to sell his place she has to leave (she has 5 weeks left) and for personal reasons, has decided to take this opportunity to relocate to a new town. We have spent 3 months viewing properties and we have not been accepted by any LL. The agencies who arrange the viewings are pretty honest and say that due to the housing market, and that for each house we are up against at least 4 other interested parties - being DSS will be held against us.

I will be my partners guarantor and will pay 6 months rent upfront. This is still getting us no where. I don't live with my partner but things are so desperate I am thinking of getting a place to rent in my name to secure a home for her - the issue is financially that would use up the money I am saving for a deposit for a house. Doing it this way would stop her housing benefit and so I could not reclaim any money back from my partner.

My partner and her children are fantastic tenants, with no issues from neighbours, the LL loves her and there has never been any issues paying. It does seem unfair that, because she cares for her son and has had to forgo her career as a teacher, this is holding her back from getting a home. But I don't begrudge the LL for not wanting tenants with benefits, I am told there can be insurance and mortgage issues if they rent to DSS and sadly they can be left vulnerable. My father has a second property and lost over 1 years rent from a tenant on benefits who stopped paying. I get it from both sides. 

Her daughter has a place at a new school but they have no home. Naively I thought if I secured the house my partner would be able to explain that I don't live at the property but just helped her get the house which might enable her to still receive benefits. No chance of that!

Sorry for going on. I just wondered if there was any help?  Does anyone have any advice? 

[Deleted User]

onearmbandit said:

Hi everyone.
I am looking for some information regarding a situation my partner is in. Simply put, she is on benefits due to being a carer for her son (he is autistic and due to school hours, the need to be dropped of picked up she is unable to work). She has rented a property for 7 years and never missed a payment.

Due to her landlord wanting to sell his place she has to leave (she has 5 weeks left) and for personal reasons, has decided to take this opportunity to relocate to a new town. We have spent 3 months viewing properties and we have not been accepted by any LL. The agencies who arrange the viewings are pretty honest and say that due to the housing market, and that for each house we are up against at least 4 other interested parties - being DSS will be held against us.

I will be my partners guarantor and will pay 6 months rent upfront. This is still getting us no where. I don't live with my partner but things are so desperate I am thinking of getting a place to rent in my name to secure a home for her - the issue is financially that would use up the money I am saving for a deposit for a house. Doing it this way would stop her housing benefit and so I could not reclaim any money back from my partner.

My partner and her children are fantastic tenants, with no issues from neighbours, the LL loves her and there has never been any issues paying. It does seem unfair that, because she cares for her son and has had to forgo her career as a teacher, this is holding her back from getting a home. But I don't begrudge the LL for not wanting tenants with benefits, I am told there can be insurance and mortgage issues if they rent to DSS and sadly they can be left vulnerable. My father has a second property and lost over 1 years rent from a tenant on benefits who stopped paying. I get it from both sides. 

Her daughter has a place at a new school but they have no home. Naively I thought if I secured the house my partner would be able to explain that I don't live at the property but just helped her get the house which might enable her to still receive benefits. No chance of that!

Sorry for going on. I just wondered if there was any help?  Does anyone have any advice? 

Your partner doesn't have to leave her current just because the landlord is selling the property.  The landlord would need to serve valid notice that would then allow him to apply to court for a possession order.  Even then your partner doesn't have to leave until bailiffs physically remove her from the property.  Then your partner would be classified as unintentionally homeless and the council would house her but that might just be in emergency accommodation and I don't think that would help with her wanting to move towns.

Putting aside that the DSS hasn't existed for 20 years if there is competition for the kind of property your partner is applying for then perhaps it's time to widen her search area or compromise on the type of property she is looking at for something less desirable that attracts less competition. Is the local housing allowance your partner receives enough to cover the rent for the area and type of property she is trying to rent?

If you applied to rent somewhere and then tried to sublet the property to your partner that would open a whole other can of worms.  Is living with you out of the question?

Neruda

As posted above, what "the system" expects your partner to do is simply stay in her present home until forced out, at which point her local authority would have a statutory obligation to rehouse her. This is clearly a gamble: she might end up with a secure tenancy of a council or housing association property, but might be "dumped" in an unattractive B and B for an indefinite period.

On another note, be aware that your plan to provide the money to pay her rent for six months would provide pretty clear evidence of the relationship, meaning that if she applied for LHA/Housing Benefit and answered 'no' to the question about having a partner she would be liable for prosecution. The "system" expects the partner with an income to provide support rather than the taxpayer.

A possible suggestion: as a qualified teacher surely she could get some part-time work as a supply teacher or tutor: this would enable her to present herself to landlords as working and so reduce the discrimination she suffers.

GeordieGeorge

It sounds as though a good solution here would be for the two of you to find a place together.

KxMx

The new areas council housing office may be able to provide advice such as a list of benefit friendly landlords. Not all do this but some do.

Also try https://www.openrent.co.uk/ where you bypass agencies and connect directly with the LL's.

sheramber

GeordieGeorge said:

It sounds as though a good solution here would be for the two of you to find a place together.

But that would affect the partner's benefits.

onearmbandit

Lover_of_Lycra said:

Your partner doesn't have to leave her current just because the landlord is selling the property.  The landlord would need to serve valid notice that would then allow him to apply to court for a possession order.  Even then your partner doesn't have to leave until bailiffs physically remove her from the property.  Then your partner would be classified as unintentionally homeless and the council would house her but that might just be in emergency accommodation and I don't think that would help with her wanting to move towns.

Putting aside that the DSS hasn't existed for 20 years if there is competition for the kind of property your partner is applying for then perhaps it's time to widen her search area or compromise on the type of property she is looking at for something less desirable that attracts less competition. Is the local housing allowance your partner receives enough to cover the rent for the area and type of property she is trying to rent?

If you applied to rent somewhere and then tried to sublet the property to your partner that would open a whole other can of worms.  Is living with you out of the question?

Hi. Sorry - I replied to this yesterday but must have not pushed the button to send. And thank you for the reply.

You are right that she could not be forced out however she wouldn't do that. She has a good relationship with her LL who has been really good to her. Furthermore, she has wanted to leave the area for some time and this has given her the impetus to do it (in a few words- she left her religion and lets just say she gets a lot of grief over it from the local community).

I realise I am probably getting the terms wrong for housing benefit - I've never claimed it. My apologies.

I am unable to live with my partner right now as my job is over 100 miles away & I rent accommodation as well.  I do intend to intend to move in however there is no work there.

I wasn't thinking so much subletting but I suppose it is - I was thinking if she informed the council of her situation and said her partner secured the rent just to secure a house is their anyway they can accommodate this. A hair brained idea I realise.

We have a few more weeks and as I say, if I have to take the financial hit even though I am not moving there I will I just am not a rich man and it'll stop my ability to save for a house which I am trying to do for herself and the kids. Bottomline is we are still lucky - I realise others in her position have it even worse. Who'd have thought just trying to rent is almost like auditioning for the x factor!

Thanks again.

onearmbandit

GeordieGeorge said:

It sounds as though a good solution here would be for the two of you to find a place together.

We do intend to do this mate but my work is quite some way away and there is no work opportunities where my partner is moving to (or currently lives). 

onearmbandit

KxMx said:

The new areas council housing office may be able to provide advice such as a list of benefit friendly landlords. Not all do this but some do.

Also try https://www.openrent.co.uk/ where you bypass agencies and connect directly with the LL's.

I did not think of this. THAT is really helpful mate. Thank you. I'll let  her know now.

onearmbandit

sheramber said:

GeordieGeorge said:

It sounds as though a good solution here would be for the two of you to find a place together.

But that would affect the partner's benefits.

It would although it isn't an option as yet.

onearmbandit

Neruda said:

As posted above, what "the system" expects your partner to do is simply stay in her present home until forced out, at which point her local authority would have a statutory obligation to rehouse her. This is clearly a gamble: she might end up with a secure tenancy of a council or housing association property, but might be "dumped" in an unattractive B and B for an indefinite period.

On another note, be aware that your plan to provide the money to pay her rent for six months would provide pretty clear evidence of the relationship, meaning that if she applied for LHA/Housing Benefit and answered 'no' to the question about having a partner she would be liable for prosecution. The "system" expects the partner with an income to provide support rather than the taxpayer.

A possible suggestion: as a qualified teacher surely she could get some part-time work as a supply teacher or tutor: this would enable her to present herself to landlords as working and so reduce the discrimination she suffers.

Thankyou for the reply. I am her partner however we would be classified as dating so I am surprised someone who doesn't live with her, isn't engage to her/married would put her at risk of being prosecuted. We live separate lives pretty much. I was just trying to secure her a place although if it comes to it I will get a place and pay the rent. I realise her benefits will stop at this point.

Due to her son having slightly different schooling hours and having to be picked up/dropped off has made it hard for her to do even part time supply teaching. She cannot get to work before 9:30 am and would have to finish by 13:30. However, she actually has managed to get a few hours as a TA however she never got enough hours to make it financially viable - she actually lost money due to reduction in her benefits. unfortunately she receives no support from her ex, the father of her children so she is financially quite limited although she can and always has paid her rent.