Housing Benefit/Council Tax query

daveboy

When applying for HB from the local council there is an option on the form to have the money paid straight to the landlord (if you choose this you have to get the landlord to sign part of the form). Or you can have the payment sent to you in the form of a cheque - then it is your responsibility to ensure the landlord receives the money.

So it is possible to be on HB and your landlord not know about it.

quidsinquentin

dmg24 wrote: »

If you search on Rightmove, there are 60 properties available between £300 and £400. You can have HB paid to the tenant, so unless the landlord specifically asks, you do not need to declare it.

What about this one?

That place looks very nice - but we've been under the impression (gained from benefits agencies, etc) that a rent of over £250-£280 just wouldn't be considered for a single person.

That may be them being misleading, but it's what they said. We've been looking around £240-£260 for that reason, of which there are very few (as you probably noticed).

He also has two kids, one of which would be visiting/staying overnight. I know that doesn't come into the equation, but we've/he's also tried to find a two bedroom place. But I suppose the kid could kip on the couch if it came to that.

quidsinquentin

daveboy wrote: »

When applying for HB from the local council there is an option on the form to have the money paid straight to the landlord (if you choose this you have to get the landlord to sign part of the form). Or you can have the payment sent to you in the form of a cheque - then it is your responsibility to ensure the landlord receives the money.

So it is possible to be on HB and your landlord not know about it.

Cheers - they never told us that either!

Which effectively means that one could 'pose' as a working person, thus obtaining a landlord and home!

Is that wrong?

quidsinquentin

Actually, I can't see that working for him/them.

Despite what anyone might think, these are scrupulously honest people. Not declaring their HB status to a landlord would probably give them sleepless nights - seriously!

On a recent training scheme, he turned down the expenses (bus fare & lunch money) provided, because he was afraid it contravened his benefits claim!

Nuts? Maybe. Honest? Definitely.

sarahlouise210

A friend of mine obtained a council property by stating that the mother would not allow overnight stays until he was settled in his own place - could he try this ?? He may have to kip on a friends sofa for a while to qualify as unsuitably housed

quidsinquentin

sarahlouise210 wrote: »

A friend of mine obtained a council property by stating that the mother would not allow overnight stays until he was settled in his own place - could he try this ?? He may have to kip on a friends sofa for a while to qualify as unsuitably housed

Sorry, don't quite follow?

seven-day-weekend

quidsinquentin wrote: »

That place looks very nice - but we've been under the impression (gained from benefits agencies, etc) that a rent of over £250-£280 just wouldn't be considered for a single person.

That may be them being misleading, but it's what they said. We've been looking around £240-£260 for that reason, of which there are very few (as you probably noticed).

He also has two kids, one of which would be visiting/staying overnight. I know that doesn't come into the equation, but we've/he's also tried to find a two bedroom place. But I suppose the kid could kip on the couch if it came to that.

Or he could.

dmg24

You have asked the question about what HB he will get before.

Unless he is in a LHA area, the only people that can say what his eligible rent will be is the Rent Service. Then, with this eligble rent figure, you can enter this and his income into a HB calculator, and see how much he is entitled to.

Alternatively, you can apply for a Pre Tenancy Determination, but you need a potential property before you can do this.

If the HB does not cover the whole rent, then he will have to pay a small amount himself. Other people have to do this, in much more expensive areas than Sheffield.

bestpud

quidsinquentin wrote: »

If he stays with ex-Mrs, she's asking for a contribution towards her mortgage payments. If he leaves and gets own place, he will be entitled to HB+CTB.

It would be cheaper to have him there for a while, until he gets his own place.

This is a genuine case. I know these people. They would be afraid of 'trying it on' with benefits agencies.

The problem they have, is that in Sheffield - where they are currently - the housing crisis is severe (I know, isn't it everywhere!), and as I understand it the crisis there is more severe than most places outside London. So he is finding it very difficult to get a place. Hence this proposal.

Basically, if he can't pay, he can't stay.

But if she is about to lose her job and needs to apply for benefits (even short term), she won't get any help with her mortgage immediately BUT anything he gives her will be classed as income and deducted from the benefits she can receive iyswim.

I thought you could now go to the council with details of a property and ask them how much they will pay in HB? I can't recall what it is called now. Or don't they do that any more? If they do, at least he would know for def what he can afford.

Edited to add: DMG has just answered my question!

quidsinquentin

I've just found out from Shelter, that given the circumstances in the OP, he may be able to claim HB/CTB. But it would be investigated in case it was a 'contrived tenancy'.

I understand that it would be worth a claim and that it is allowed.