Hi all

I wasn't sure where to post this so here goes.

I have been a council tenant for nigh on 30 years. In September 2011 I underwent a quadruple heart transplant which had complications and led to several TIA's. Last wee I was diagnosed with Paget's Disease of the breast. I guess I have come to the end of my "sell by date". What does this have to do with council renting .. ah there's the rub.

I am a single parent with a 26 year old son who is in full time employment and who lives with me. I receive partal Housing Benefit and partis Council Tax Benefit. My son does not pay rent but contributes to household bills such as food, fuel bills, etc. I now feel that it is imperative to have him on the rent book so that he will have a place to stay (in London) should anything happen.

My query is if I name him on the rent book will:

a) I lose my entitlement to reduced rent and council tax; and

b) Will the council make me pay back any monies from the time he started work (3 years - which will be thousands).

Any help gratefully appreciated.

Hello TPar, welcome to the CAG.

Enjoy your visit, but take some time to look around the forum and understand where everything is.

It can seem confusing at first but you will start to find your way round and to understand what a helpful community we are.

You haven't received any replies to your post yet. Try posting your query again in a relevant sub-foum. You will get the help and support you need there.

I have moved your thread to the Benefit forum where I think you will become visible and receive assistance

Thank you

According to the law of succession a properties tenancy can be passed on once only, so if you didn't receive it via succession a dependent of yours can apply for it after your death. In that link you can also read about assignment, another option. If you choose succession coucils have the right to assign a different property rather than the one you are in, if they deem the size to be disproportionate to their needs ie they may feel a single male only needs one bedroom. If you choose assignment, then from the date of change your son would be the main tenant and it is his income that will be examined to determine what CTB and HB is awarded, and you would be a non dependent living there and your income would be examined to see what contribution they expect you to make towards rent and council tax. If you are wanting to leave the property to your son as a tenant then I assume you feel he can afford the rent etc. anyway so that wouldn't be a problem. They would not ask for money for the past, the changes would happen from the date of the change of tenancy and not in the past.

HTH

Also, have you applied for DLA at all? If so, then you should be getting a full non dependent disregard and getting full housing and council tax benefit.

Aw bless you abc. Thank you for your replies.

That puts my mind at rest regarding the accession to the property once I am no longer here.

With regard to DLA I am over 65 so would not be eligible and I really do not have the strength to battle for Attendance Allowance right now but will keep it in mind.

Again bless you.

Whether or not you will have an overpayment, depends not on your son being added to your tenancy, but on whether you informed the benefit section he was living with you or that he was working. If you did then you already will have a non dependant deduction on your housing benefit, if you didn't then when they discover he has been living with you/working, you may have an overpayment (dependant on his and your circumstances - for instance do you get dla/AA, or was he ever claiming benefits).

Your son will be expected to make contribution towards the rent, whether as a non dependant or joint tenant (not sure how these tenancies work).

I'd assumed that the reason the OP is getting partial CTB and HB and not full is because the LA have made non dependent deductions so must be aware of his presense.

TPar,

do the HB department know that your son is living with you? and that he is working?

Yes they are aware

TPar

Your landlord is unlikely to agree to give you a joint tenancy.

If however they do agree, then your son would become liable to pay half the rent and council tax - and you would be able to claim hb/ctb towards your half.

Any change would only affect the period after a change in tenancy. HB/CTB would not need to be assessed for period prior to change in tenancy.