If I rent my house to my daughter can she still claim housing benefit?

[Kezzles11]

I currently live with my daughter in a house that I have a mortgage on. Recently my daughter fell pregnant and would like to set up home with her boyfriend.
I will shortly be moving in with my partner and had planned to rent my house out anyway. If I rent my house to my daughter and her boyfriend, would it be possible for them to claim housing benefit as he is on a low income?
I am not looking to scam the benefit system, but will get a tennant I can trust, and my daughter will benefit from a furnished, decorated house and not having to find the money for a deposit.

[jb190281]

quick and simple answer, no. i believe they would pay rent to a landlord who was a slightly more distant relative but not a parent. but please check it with them, the legislation constantly changes.

[redcrx]

http://www.theanswerb...w/Question843644.html some replies on similar here

[bednobs]

i think if she is not paying you any rent now, you will find it impossible to do this - the council may well see it as taking advantage of the HB scheme. However, for the definative answer you will need to contact your local council

[Teleph0ne]

I rented a house of my dad for a while, he bought it with the idea of me buying it off him in the future but unfortunately I lost my job. I was on benefit for a couple of months and it wasn't a problem that my father was the landlord as we did a tenancy agreement

[jb190281]

http://www.direct.gov...ow_income/DG_10018926

as you will see here, it does state housing benefit isnt usually paid if living in the home of a close relative. like i said previously, there may be exceptions or constant changes to the regulations and the best bet is the local authority.

[Teleph0ne]

It wasn't a problem as we did a tenancy agreement and they sent someone round to check the house to make sure everything was as we said it was but. I actually got my rent paid by housing benefit that I was renting from my dad! Unless I am lying!!

[Kezzles11]

Thanks for the advice and comments.
I'll contact the local authority and see if we can draw up a tennancy agreement...or resort to plan B.

Thanks again

[themas]

You must not be living in the house yourself, but it should be possible for her to get HB provided you have a proper tenancy agreement which is on a normal commercial basis. In other words, the rent must be realistic for the property and area and all the usual terms (including the possibility of eviction if the tenancy terms are breached - such as by getting into rent arrears) must be in the agreement.

You do need to check first with the local authority but be careful you don't accept a glib "no you can't" type answer. The full facts need to be provided and properly considered by them. If an application is made and turned down because she is your daughter then there is a right of appeal. If things reach that stage you might well need advice from either CAB or Shelter.

[Teleph0ne]

You can download a tenancy agreement from various sites or buy them from Staples or most other office supplies, just insert your details and job done. you would need to do this before contacting the council.

[Mr Veritas]

Sorry,but I have to agree with the other here that answered NO.
All Councils will not tolerate an application for Housing Benefit from a relation.
To them it smacks of fraud,even though it (usually) isn't.

[Teleph0ne]

obviously i was imagining it then!!! as long as you have a tenancy agreement and the rent is reasonable then it is perfectly acceptable. I am speaking as someone that has actually had housing benefit paid when renting a house from my dad not someone just assuming or guessing!

[Mr Veritas]

Well,OUR Council doesn't allow it,others may.
We know this from attempting something similar in 2009.
Maybe they are tightening up now that the assessment of Housing Benefit has been transferred by the Government to a quango in Newcastle,and not the actual Council, who only administer payments.

[Mr Veritas]

PS:~
It is now referred to as Local Housing Allowance,and not Rent Benefit.

[Teleph0ne]

As long as you have a formal tenancy agreement then it is fine. It is perfectly acceptable to rent from family as long as it is formal and above board. They will check!

[joko]

yet more people spouting off answers who clearly have no idea on the facts

i rent from my father, and housing benefit have paid for it - on and off - over many years.
I have never, ever had any problem wth this, and in fact it has never even been questioned.

[joko]

people are not expected to fund their offspring as an adult, just because they are parents - why shoudl they?

what is fraudulent about it?

[jb190281]

this someone wasnt 'guessing' either, i actually work for a local authority, in a housing department. i admit, i dont work in housing benefits and thats why i suggest that each individual case checks with their authority.
imagine if they paid HB to everyone and anyone who lived with family......

[Drisgirl]

My daughter owns her flat but its in her stepfathers name (mortgage reasons as she was just 18). I can safely post this as its above board.
She is unemployed and has to claim housing benefit.
I told her to be totally above board to keep us all on the right side of the law.
She told them she rented it from her step dad -true- and they accepted it no problem and she is now getting housing benefit until she can get another job.
So it pays to be upfront as the form she completed did ask if her landlord was a relative so she said he was.This is applicable in Scotland -I dont know if its the same anywhere else.

[Drisgirl]

On the back of what joko said about funding offspring -dont really know what that was about but I know where he/she's coming from
I have never claimed in my life neither has my husband neither did my daughters dad.
My daughter has an Insurance policy which is effective immediately she becomes unemployed but she hasnt claimed on it as she felt that if she was getting money from them it wouldnt motivate her to search for another job.
I salute her for having that attitude and the shortfall of the mortgage will be paid by us until she gets another job .

So not everone is a free loader -quite the opposite in fact. (Disclaimer -that last bit was my opinion and not that of anyone else lol)

[jb190281]

i agree with you drisgirl, far too many are too quick to take the free ride these days!