I have a house which is not in use and have asked a friend if she and her children would like to live there, can i rent it to her even though she is on benifits?? and still have my mail arriving at the address, would that jepordise her benifits??
2007-01-05 02:31:45 · 9 answers · asked by S H 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
In answer to all your questions she is disabled and my property offers a downstairs loo and other facilities which would help with her situation.. she has been told she cannot work atall for the rest of her life, and she is a daughter of a childhood friend.
2007-01-05 02:54:23 · update #1
Yeah - that should be OK but make sure you get a proper rent agreement and include the fact that your personal mail will still be going to the address and what the tenant (your friend) is expected to do with it. (As long as you never 'live' in the house then it shouldn't be a problem. I assume you are friends and not in a closer relationship where you would be spending a significant amount of time together and eating and/or sleeping together. If your relationship is more than just friends then be very very careful as this makes it all a lot more complicated.)
This sounds like a really nice way to help you and your friend (she looks after your house and you get a tenant you know and think you can trust) but a formal agreement keeps it all legal and makes it more likely you folks will still be friends in the future.
I assume you have a spare home because you have moved in with your partner - if this is the case have you considered what you would do should you need to move out of where you are currently living?
Hope this all works out for you and your friend.
2007-01-05 02:40:11 · answer #1 · answered by Julie B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it could make a mess of her benefits. If you're a bloke and your mail is going to the house you will be accused of co-habiting....easy enough to disprove but it takes time and what does your friend do for money in the meantime.? You would also need a formal arrangement about the rent, with a tenancy agreement, rent book etc otherwise they won't believe she's actually paying rent, and her housing benefit won't get paid.
#Edit# Post your question again my friend with all the info. It makes a lot of difference.....
All this assumes you're UK, btw. If you are, go see the Citizens Advice.
2007-01-05 02:41:31 · answer #2 · answered by lou b 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on whether you allow her to become a Short Assured Tenant with a lease I would think. If you are not living there I would think there is no impact, except on your income. There may be tax implications for you. Do you intend her to claim Housing Benefit from the local authority. If so, she'll need proof of the rent. Don't forget the rent may include repairs, buildings and contents insurance, gas cover etc.
2007-01-05 02:37:08 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It'll be fine so long as you have a formal agreement ( see the law society for a contract ( about £30 )) and you have another permanent address.
If the house is mortgaged you'll need to tell them.
If you insure it, you'll also need to tell them.
The trend now if for benefits to be paid to the occupier and they pay you, it used to be that the DSS would pay you direct. So, set up a direct debit so there is no nonsense over paying the rent.
2007-01-05 02:45:04 · answer #4 · answered by Michael H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as everything is above board this arrangement can go ahead. Your friend may be entitled to housing benefit anyway and this could be paid direct to you from the DSS, your friend would have to top up the amount if more than the allowance given. Your mail could still go there.
2007-01-05 02:37:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes you can ..... but be just a landlord and housing benefit should be paid direct to you ...be sensible with the rent payment she wont be paying anyway don't make it to cheap ... if the house suits and she stresses that she has found a house which suits her physical needs and the council cant supply (WHICH they wont be ABLE to its NOT suitable ) OK but be careful don't see any prob with mail but better to get it redirected ...if its fraudulent then you will be caught ...they know all the dodges and rightly so me living on benefits and get away with nothing so go lightly ....
2007-01-10 05:12:14 · answer #6 · answered by bobonumpty 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can see no problems (your mail or not), but if it was me I would not stress the friendship to the Housing Benefit people.
2007-01-05 02:36:27 · answer #7 · answered by ♣ My Brainhurts ♣ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO SHE JUST HAS TO TELL THE BENEFIT OFFICE HER NEW ADDRESS AND HOW MUCH RENT IT IS THEY WILL PAY IT.AS LONG AS IT ISNT MUCH MORE THAN SHE PAYS NOW.OTHERWISE SHE WILL HAVE TO FIND THE REST OF THE RENT MONEY HERSELF.YOU WILL HAVE TO HAVE YOUR MAIL ADDRESS CHANGED,GET A POST OFFICE BOX,OR JUST REDIRECT IT.
2007-01-05 02:44:08 · answer #8 · answered by aunty m 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
as far as i know that would be fine.
i don't any reason why your post going to the address would have any effect on her benefits, but maybe it would be wise to mention it to the housing benefit section just to varify it.
2007-01-05 02:37:29 · answer #9 · answered by sarebeardragon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋