Entitlement to Housing Benefit

[mac8]

I have recently returned to the UK and am in receipt of contribution based jobseeker's allowance as I am not working yet. I own a home here which is currently rented out at a rate which does not even cover the mortgage. I cannot afford to move back into this house at present so am renting a room from a friend. I cannot get a straight answer about whether I am entitled to Housing Benefit or not. Can anybody help?

[surprise]

its not clear cut - - how much is the property worth and how much is outstanding on the mortgage also you state you are renting a room from a friend - would your friend rent it out to any one else? - has it been rented before? if you didn't pay the rent would your friend evict you? once you have replied to these questions I will get back to you

[mac8]

Yes, my friend would rent the room to someone else and has done so before. I have 230K outstanding on the mortgage and I am not sure what the house is worth in this market. 250K? The rental does not cover the whole mortgage payment.

[surprise]

can you confirm when you moved into your current address?

regarding your property - what happens is that you are sent a valuation form - this asks all types of questions regarding your property - how much mortgage - how much is the property worth - etc -this form is returned to the council then forwarded on the valuation office who then value your property - if you have equity in the property over 16K then you will not qualify for benefits however if you are selling the property then the capital is disregarded for upto 26 weeks