renting out to relative

[tali122]

what is the situation regarding renting out(a room /property) to a relative who claims housing benefit?

[undercovers]

http://www.newham.gov.uk/Services/HousingBenefitInformationForLandlords/

the above link has some useful info from newham borough - if you google houseing benefit + info for landlords + your area, then your council will prob have more info.

As for them being your relative then this shouldn't be a problem provided that this is a valid tenancy rather than a way to defraud the govt e.g. you would have provided a room anyway etc

I suggest a trip to the job centre / social would offer the best answers

all the best

[tali122]

it was just that relative tenancies were regarded as suspicious by councils

[THECORBYLOON]

You cannot claim Housing Benefit if you live in the same dwelling as your landlord, and they are a close relative of you or your partner.

A close relative is a:

parent
or step-parent
or father-in-law or mother-in-law
or child
or step-child
or son-in-law or daughter-in-law
or brother or sister
or brother-in-law or sister-in-law
or partner of any of the above.

Hope that helps.

[theprof]

Everything THECORBYLOO says on this is correct.

I've known students who have tried to pull a fast one by living with their parents or other relative in the locality and have tried to claim Housing Benefits.

No council in the country will pay HB under these circumstances.

[undercovers]

students can't claim housing benefit under any circumstances

[THECORBYLOON]

Sorry undercovers but you are not correct, students can get Housing Benefit if-

Full time students can only claim Housing Benefit and Main Council Tax Benefit if they are:

Pensioners - that are aged over 60 years;

Lone parents - with dependant children;

Disabled - receiving a disability benefit or disabled students allowance;

Receiving Jobseekers Allowance (Income based) or Income Support;

A member of a student couple - both of whom are students and there is a dependant child;

Responsible for a child - e.g. foster children;

In further Education - up to the age of 19 years.

Part time students.

[tali122]

there is a specific tenancy term for relatives in same household claiming h /benefit - anyone know what it is as i cant remember it