Assured social housing tenancy but looking at going to Canada for two years

fdfadsgrfg

Hi all, I've been trying to go to places for advice but am still trying to figure out an answer, so I'm hoping someone can help me. 

I'm a social housing tenant with an assured tenancy and live in London. I learned about the two-year residency program in Canada and want to go. I earn enough to live comfortably as a social housing tenant but in the private market I wouldn't be able to survive. 

I'm a university graduate but I've been doing a lot of research about salaries Canada pays me for someone in my field and I found most areas I want to live in pays about $80,000 CAD a year. I've done a lot of calculation and during those two years I will be able to pay my own rent. 

My question is would I be able to live in Canada for two years and keep my assured social housing? I'm not on any benefits but I understand I need to inform HMRC.

la531983

Are you asking that if you can keep the property empty and return to it in 2 years, or that when you return you would go back to the top of the waiting list for a new property? 

TELLIT01

80k Canadian Dollars is about £46k.  Would you really be able to pay rent on 2 properties and live a decent lifestyle in Canada on that income?  If you are considering sub-letting the London property whilst away that would certainly be against the terms of the tenancy.  Does your tenancy agreement say anything about how long you can leave it empty?

la531983

Also leaving it empty for two years would certainly breach the terms of any home insurance, as well as running the risk of frozen pipes in winter. 

tightauldgit

fdfadsgrfg said:

Hi all, I've been trying to go to places for advice but am still trying to figure out an answer, so I'm hoping someone can help me. 

I'm a social housing tenant with an assured tenancy and live in London. I learned about the two-year residency program in Canada and want to go. I earn enough to live comfortably as a social housing tenant but in the private market I wouldn't be able to survive. 

I'm a university graduate but I've been doing a lot of research about salaries Canada pays me for someone in my field and I found most areas I want to live in pays about $80,000 CAD a year. I've done a lot of calculation and during those two years I will be able to pay my own rent. 

My question is would I be able to live in Canada for two years and keep my assured social housing? I'm not on any benefits but I understand I need to inform HMRC.

Can't see any way that a non UK resident would be eligible for UK social housing. So no. 

silvercar

According to Shelter, "An assured tenant of a registered social landlord permanently loses their assured tenancy status if they sublet, or part with possession of, their social dwelling-house in breach of an express or implied term of the tenancy."

If you don't actually "part with possession", generally taken to mean allow someone else to occupy and/or sub let, then you may be fine on this clause. 

The issue you face is whether your tenancy agreement allows you to leave it unoccupied for a long time. People do temporarily leave their properties for all sorts of reasons eg to care for a sick relative, travel with work etc so there may be something in your agreement that allows this.

silvercar

I've asked the forum team to move this to the housing board.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/house-buying-renting-selling

MSE_ForumTeam5

Moved as per silvercar's suggestion

Flugelhorn

I can imagine that there are some people who are working elsewhere in the UK / Europe and may come back to a property from time to time to ensure they occupy it / check it is OK - more tricky (and expensive)
from Canada

RAS

You may be OK doing this; I'm aware of people whose social rent was paid by HB when they were overseas for family reasons.

But you do need to check the precise details for your provider and I'd suggest.

1. Making sure that there is evidence of occupation, remember to pay the Council Tax.
2. You come back to the UK at least once a year to check the property.
3. You have a friend or family member who checks the property every couple of weeks, to meet the requirements for insurance and to collect your mail. Make sure you stay on the electoral roll.

If however at any time you decide you want to stay in Canada, you need to give up the property. 

And do make sure you can afford the Canadian rent and living costs, some areas are very expensive.

marcia_

 We needed to go to Australia to support a relative for 2 months due to family death. The housing association were adamant we would lose the tenancy if we left it empty, so i stayed and my partner went alone.