Housing Benefit

[HenryFord]

Hi All, I find myself in the horrible position of splitting up with my partner of 18 years (not married, but we have a 17 year old beautiful daughter). We live in a house which I own and I also own a Holiday Cottage nearby (also all in my name, deeds, mortgage etc), this has been rented out for about a year now. My partner wants to move into this and rent it from me for a commercial rent. My daughter will probably live between the 2 properties. Is it possible for my partner to claim housing benefit as she wont be earning enough to cover the rent?

[naomi24]

It rolls off you, Eddie, it really does.

[naomi24]

Eddie, why do you think it's ok to encourage people who ask legitimate questions here to be deceitful?

[ummmm]

But they have a daughter.

[sunny-dave]

1. Eddie’s advice is illegal and will probably end up with both of you being charged with benefit fraud

2. Your partner is entitled to a decent financial settlement (even if you weren’t married) and should see a solicitor immediately (unless you make her a very generous offer). Even if you already owned both the relevant properties outright before you started the relationship, she may be entitled to some of the assets.

3. State Benefits are designed to help the needy - not to enable a couple to separate and leave the State to support one partner (usually the wife) whilst the other (usually the husband) just walks away scot free to a new and more prosperous life.

[andres]

You mention a mortgage re the cottage .If you have to pay a mortgage then obviously you will need a decent rental income. If you own the property outright then why don't you come to some amicable rental agreement with your ex partner?

[kvalidir]

Eddie I can't believe the advice you are giving here. They were partners- that is easily provable by anyone, plus they have a child together so his name is likely to be on her birth certificate, plus it's dishonest and illegal. They can do this perfectly legally by being honest, why are you advising people to become criminals?

[ummmm]

Kval...he does it all the time.

[ladybirder]

IMO, it does this site no credit that his answers are allowed to remain.

[ummmm]

The other answers won't make sense if they are removed.

[murraymints]

agree that you must be honest on an application form..they WILL find out there has been a relationship in the past and your current status WILL be scrutinised...if you try and cover it up there WILL be consequences...

[ladybirder]

You think Ummmm? Dave, Naomi and others have made it quite clear that the content of the removed post/s would have been giving illegal advice, IMO.

[EDDIE51]

You would get the same advice from a solicitor or the CAB. It is not trying to beat the system it is just making sure you get the maximum possible entitlement under the circumstances. Do you know that over 50% of all those entitled to housing benefit do not claim it or underclaim (some estimates are as high as 75%) It is attitudes such as we see here where there is prejudice against claiming what people are legally ENTITLED to that is to blame.

[ummmm]

You're advising the poster to be dishonest, Eddie.

[hc4361]

No solicitor would advise a client to make outright lies on a claim form, Eddie.

[sunny-dave]

I have no prejudice against people claiming every penny to which they are entitled - but you are advising people to tell outright lies to claim money to which they are manifestly *not* entitled. I too hope your ‘advice’ is removed.

[naomi24]

When advice, that if taken, is likely to result in trouble, it matters not that other responses make no sense if those misleading posts are removed. Eddie makes a habit of posting inaccurate information - in all areas - and long term contributors here will be aware that to give credence to any of his posts is foolish in the extreme. Unfortunately those who haven’t been around quite so long may well be rather more trusting.

[hc4361]

From Shelter, experts in this field:

Renting from an ex-partner
You can't get housing benefit if you pay rent to an ex-partner for a home you used to live in as a couple, or if you have a child with your ex and your child lives with you.

You can get housing benefit if you pay rent to an ex-partner for somewhere you never lived together as a couple, as long as you do not have a child with your ex who continues to live with you.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/housing_benefit/housing_benefit_renting_from_family

[kvalidir]

EDDIE I have NO aversion to people claiming benefits, I frequently help people fill forms in to make sure they get everything to which they are entitled in fact, but to suggest the CAB or a Solicitor would tell a claimant to be outrightly dishonest to a direct question is absolutely wrong, and imho your responses should be removed as they are dangerous and misleading.

[sunny-dave]

The crucial two have gone, kval.

[woofgang]

has anyone, who thinks the answers should be removed, reported them?