Housing Benefit

suzanne108 · Nov 9th, 2009, 14:14 PM

I just posted this in the Finance section but there never seems to be many people there to answer! Wondered if any of you ladies could shed any light??

I'm looking at renting a room off my sister.

It'd help us both...I need somewhere to live but worried about living on my own and my sister needs some extra money to pay her mortgage.

Can I claim housing benefit when the rent is going to my sister?

Jellytot2009 · Nov 9th, 2009, 14:24 PM

When applying for HB I had to show them a contract/agreement between myself and the person who I was renting from which was fine when I had a landlord. Once I moved in with family I was told I could no longer claim HB. The family was that of the father of my baby. It was not even my immediate family so I don't think you would be able to claim. But I would query it as different parts of the country have different polices. I live in Wales.

heidi86 · Nov 9th, 2009, 14:25 PM

i got it hun, so hopefully u do 2 u will have 2 show proof good luck x

asacia · Nov 9th, 2009, 14:29 PM

There are a few things to consider - is your Sister allowed to rent a room out? I know there are clauses by most mortgage providers about renting, I'm not sure if this covers rooms or not. It might be deemed as a contrived tenancy, depending on wether the room was offered on the open market, how much you pay, what sort of agreement you have and what she'd do if you didn't pay the rent.

natlee · Nov 9th, 2009, 14:30 PM

i think if you have a tenancy agreement from your sister you can? i over heard a lady who was renting off a relative and she was claiming housing benefits, im not 100% but i think you can still claim because it asks if you are related to the landlord in one section of the booklet .. hope you can x

asacia · Nov 9th, 2009, 14:36 PM

Oh yes, I forgot about that:
"You cannot claim HB if you live in the same dwelling as your landlord, and they are a close relative of you or your partner"

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/s...using-benefit/

asacia · Nov 9th, 2009, 14:36 PM

Sorry double post. I think you'd unlikely qualify.

Dream.A.Dream · Nov 9th, 2009, 14:42 PM

I agree, I don't think they pay housing benefit if you live with a family member xx

suzib76 · Nov 9th, 2009, 16:34 PM

a few years ago my brother lived with us and he claimed £40 a week for rent

Mize1982 · Nov 9th, 2009, 16:40 PM

as far as i'm aware if its emidiate family you wouldnt be entitled to it.

Think its on the direct gov website.

possibly pop along to the council tho and see if there is anything else they can do.

Nov 9th, 2009, 14:14 PM	#1
suzanne108 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Manchester Posts: 6,844	Housing Benefit I just posted this in the Finance section but there never seems to be many people there to answer! Wondered if any of you ladies could shed any light?? I'm looking at renting a room off my sister. It'd help us both...I need somewhere to live but worried about living on my own and my sister needs some extra money to pay her mortgage. Can I claim housing benefit when the rent is going to my sister?

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Nov 9th, 2009, 14:24 PM	#2
Jellytot2009 Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 15	When applying for HB I had to show them a contract/agreement between myself and the person who I was renting from which was fine when I had a landlord. Once I moved in with family I was told I could no longer claim HB. The family was that of the father of my baby. It was not even my immediate family so I don't think you would be able to claim. But I would query it as different parts of the country have different polices. I live in Wales.

Status: Offline

Nov 9th, 2009, 14:25 PM	#3
heidi86 Mum (Mom) Inactive Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: cornwall Posts: 225	i got it hun, so hopefully u do 2 u will have 2 show proof good luck x

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Nov 9th, 2009, 14:29 PM	#4
asacia Mum (Mom) Inactive Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Surrey Posts: 1,708	There are a few things to consider - is your Sister allowed to rent a room out? I know there are clauses by most mortgage providers about renting, I'm not sure if this covers rooms or not. It might be deemed as a contrived tenancy, depending on wether the room was offered on the open market, how much you pay, what sort of agreement you have and what she'd do if you didn't pay the rent.

Status: Offline

Nov 9th, 2009, 14:30 PM	#5
natlee Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 711	i think if you have a tenancy agreement from your sister you can? i over heard a lady who was renting off a relative and she was claiming housing benefits, im not 100% but i think you can still claim because it asks if you are related to the landlord in one section of the booklet .. hope you can x

Status: Offline

Nov 9th, 2009, 14:36 PM	#6
asacia Mum (Mom) Inactive Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Surrey Posts: 1,708	Oh yes, I forgot about that: "You cannot claim HB if you live in the same dwelling as your landlord, and they are a close relative of you or your partner" http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/s...using-benefit/

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Nov 9th, 2009, 14:42 PM	#8
Dream.A.Dream Waiting To Try (WTT) BnB Elite Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: England Posts: 18,943	I agree, I don't think they pay housing benefit if you live with a family member xx

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Nov 9th, 2009, 16:34 PM	#9
suzib76 Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 4,690	a few years ago my brother lived with us and he claimed £40 a week for rent

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Nov 9th, 2009, 16:40 PM	#10
Mize1982 Pregnant (Expecting) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Chessington, Surrey. Posts: 1,379	as far as i'm aware if its emidiate family you wouldnt be entitled to it. Think its on the direct gov website. possibly pop along to the council tho and see if there is anything else they can do.

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