Claiming HB when you own OTHER property...?

[rainbo]

Hi all,

 

Can you claim HB for the home you're renting if you own properties elsewhere in the UK? The said properties have Buy-To-Let mortgages and tenants who's rent covers the repayments, there is no profit.

 

Bit of background: family member is about to split from her husband, she's in her 30s with 3 children under 7, and would like to stay in the home they've been renting for almost 4 years. All the properties are in joint names, and are in other parts of the country to where they live, children go to school etc. She doesn't work, husband works part time (20 hours a week).

 

Thanks

[sallypotter]

Depends.

 

Look at the housing benefit application forms. They ask about owning properties elsewhere.

 

If you are selling one think you will find you may have a chance.

 

But you obviously have more than one which you are getting an income from so i doubt it.

 

I know you're using this to pay the mortgage but that will be excluded.

 

Apply, disclose everything and see what they say.

[Slatted]

Like my parents always said "you don't ask you can't get"..... ....Then again these days.........

[rainbo]

Depends.

 

Look at the housing benefit application forms. They ask about owning properties elsewhere.

 

If you are selling one think you will find you may have a chance.

 

But you obviously have more than one which you are getting an income from so i doubt it.

 

I know you're using this to pay the mortgage but that will be excluded.

 

Apply, disclose everything and see what they say.

 

It's not for me, it's for a family member They're not selling, they can't afford to. If they sell now they'll be left with a massive mortgage debt as the properties are worth MUCH less than they paid.

[sallypotter]

Like me and my good mate Slatted have basically said.

 

Get them to apply, it'll either be yes or no.

 

Don't think they have any other option to get the answer.

[rainbo]

Like me and my good mate Slatted have basically said.

 

Get them to apply, it'll either be yes or no.

 

Don't think they have any other option to get the answer.

 

Yes, she's going to apply anyway, I just wondered if she had any hope of getting it. Everything's very much up in the air for her at the moment, so I thought I'd try to ease some of the worry

[sallypotter]

I don't know, but i do know they'll ask for all manner of documents.

[Slatted]

I don't know, but i do know they'll ask for all manner of documents.

 

The are asking for more and more...stranger and stranger too if you ask me....

 

Althouh I understand your need to do what you can to ease worries for your friend it seems these days that asking for informaton just makes one realise that maybe there was more to worry about than you originally realised when you get it !! Sadly.....

 

 

[sallypotter]

Slatted,

 

My cousin is not unduly worried as the house sale goes through next week hopefully and she'll be able to stop her claim then.

 

She's been on to COMMINITY LEGAL ADVICE this afternoon and a lady there is hopefully going to write to the Council for her.

 

The trouble with claiming benefits etc, is that no-one knows everything there is to know about the benefit system, whether it is Housing, DWP, HMRC etc.

 

You do something that you think is above board and then find out maybe it's not.

 

What really gets me is the stories they make up about people.

 

Saying people are in relationships when they're not.

 

These departments want their cake and to eat it to.

 

They have a one size fits all way of thinking.

[sallypotter]

Forgot to add, i think they go for easy targets.

[queensclose]

you will asked to provide bank statements tenants agreements.

[Slatted]

Slatted,

 

My cousin is not unduly worried as the house sale goes through next week hopefully and she'll be able to stop her claim then.

 

She's been on to COMMINITY LEGAL ADVICE this afternoon and a lady there is hopefully going to write to the Council for her.

 

The trouble with claiming benefits etc, is that no-one knows everything there is to know about the benefit system, whether it is Housing, DWP, HMRC etc.

 

You do something that you think is above board and then find out maybe it's not.

 

What really gets me is the stories they make up about people.

 

Saying people are in relationships when they're not.

 

These departments want their cake and to eat it to.

 

They have a one size fits all way of thinking.

 

They apply rules with no common sense and try to squeeze everyone into boxes imo

[Nystagmite]

 

If you are selling one think you will find you may have a chance.

 

There is something about a disregard (although this may only be the capital for 26 weeks after being sold) if you're planning on selling it.

[MIKEY DABODEE]

For I.S purposes if she owned other properties and claimed, they would ask for valuations, mortgage statements, tenent agreements to show how much rent was being being paid, if there was no calletoral in the properties or negative equity they may be disregarded, its a DM decision and reviewed every six months, Any rents in excess of the mortgages would be treated as income.

 

I dont think they would be disregarded for the 26 weeks period as no steps would be being taken into selling the properties. I would think HB would be along the same lines.

[rainbo]

For I.S purposes if she owned other properties and claimed, they would ask for valuations, mortgage statements, tenent agreements to show how much rent was being being paid, if there was no calletoral in the properties or negative equity they may be disregarded, its a DM decision and reviewed every six months, Any rents in excess of the mortgages would be treated as income.

 

I dont think they would be disregarded for the 26 weeks period as no steps would be being taken into selling the properties. I would think HB would be along the same lines.

 

THANK YOU Mikey That gives me hope, I shall pass this onto her.

[MIKEY DABODEE]

It is always worth applying they can only turn you down if not entitled if they declare the properties then the decison will be made, I have seen people on I.S in a similar situation and entitled.