LHA query

Britannia12345

One of our kids is leaving university in a few weeks and moving back to their home town. They want to house/flat share with their friend that they've shared with all through uni.

Until they find their feet and find a job (which we hope won't be too long) they'll have to claim universal credit.

They've just checked the local housing allowance and it's about £124 a week for a two bedroom property. The cheapest they've seen for rent is £175 a week. How do people manage if they have to make up the shortfall? I don't know of anywhere apart from council housing that costs £124 a week 😭

NedS

It's difficult, as housing costs are often more than means-tested benefits will provide. People end up having to meet the shortfall out of their personal allowance in order to cover the rent.

Can they get a part-time (non-graduate) job to help cover the shortfall?

Britannia12345

Hopefully they will as they'll turn their hand to anything. I have no idea how families manage 😭

Altior

They want to be able to effectively share a free property funded by the taxpayer, is that right?

Britannia12345

No they want to move and get jobs asap after graduating but I'm worried how they'll manage if they can't find work immediately.

Btw your opinion is not welcome - just hope you never find yourself in need of help.

HillStreetBlues

If the LHA was a book it would be in the fiction department.

My friend has been looking at properties, did a 40 mile radius, out of the 430 properties the amount totally covered by the LHA was ZERO!

Newcad

You/they would seem to be looking at this using the wrong LHA rate.

They would not get LHA 2-bedroom rate as 2 people sharing. (Or as a couple).

Assuming that they are not aged over 35* then each would get LHA "Shared Rate". (Unless they are a couple and claim UC as a couple in which case it would be 1-bedroom rate).

https://www.gov.uk/housing-and-universal-credit/renting-from-private-landlord

So check again for afordability on that "shared rate" basis and it may work.

*If over 35 then each would get 1-bedroom rate unless claiming as a couple.

Flugelhorn

I think most kids go back to the home town and live with mum and dad again until they can find a job

Britannia12345

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81966053#Comment_81966053

Thankyou.

Britannia12345

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81966088#Comment_81966088

Sadly this is not an option for their flatmate.

silvercar

I’m confused here. Is ‘their home town’ your home town ie where you live? In which case uni finishers generally come home to their parents until they earn enough to leave home.

If their potential flatmate can’t live with their own parent(s), they need to find themselves a house share, either people they know or through contacts or an HMO found on ‘spare room’ or whatever other website people use.

Without an income, your kid doesn’t have the luxury of deciding to live in a flat share with their mate.

if they aren’t a couple they would each be claiming the shared home rate if under 35. If they are a couple then they get the 1 bedroom rate between them.