Rates to Landlord?

john5000

Hi I recently was awarded Housing Benefit for a Property I've started to rent. My Housing Benefit was made up of two Parts one towards Rent and one towards Rates. Can I use both parts to go towards my Rent or only the Rent part and send the Rates payment to my Landlord? When I found the Property online it said 'Rates Paid by Landlord' 

Newcad

I'm sorry but your question does not seem to make sense.

Can you provide some clarification?

You can no longer claim Housing Benefit unless you are a penisioner or have other speical circumstances. Do you mean Universal Credit?

"Rates"? Do you mean Council Tax?

(If you are living in a shared property known as a HMO then the landlord should usually pay the Council Tax)

Just to be sure, which country of the UK are you living in?

I think that you will need to provide more details of your situation before we can help you.

HillStreetBlues

I'm guessing OP is in Northern Ireland.

john5000

I live in Northern Ireland a lot of people over here havent been moved to Universal Credit yet. We don't pay Council Tax we pay an Annual Charge on a Property called Rates (The more expensive The Property The higher The Rate Charge) The place where I've moved the Rent is £120 per week In my Housing Benefit Award letter it's says this-
You have been Awarded the following-         Rent   =   67.82 per week
                                                                             Rates =   14.09 per week
                                                                  Total Award =   81.91 per week
Allowing for Housing Benefit you will need to pay your Landlord £38.09 each Week. 
So as you see even the Housing Benefit people appear to say I can use the Rates portion to go towards my Rent?

huckster

See if anyone on here knows the rules in Northern Ireland.

If not, you may wish to obtain local advice.

ripplyuk

Yes, the rates portion can go towards your rent. Your landlord is paying the rates but expects to recoup that through the rent you pay him. That’s why the housing benefit includes an amount towards rates. 

john5000

Ok that's great Thank You 

Newcad

Thanks, being in NI does explain why I was confused by your post

The basic premises with any benefit is that you are entitled to that much money, once it's paid to you then it's entirely your choice just how you use/spend it.

The council being sensible say 'here's so much towards the rent, and so much towards the rates' - but how you then spend that total is up to you.

Of course you would be daft not to use it all to help towards paying your landlord as intended.

john5000

Ok Thanks