Housing Benefit Advice

[essexmat]

Apologies if this is the wrong forum/area. Admin - please move if appropriate.

 

OK, will try and be brief:

 

I live at home with my parents, we have a2 bed property and a joint tenancy (my signature and my parents signature are on the agreement) I get HB and ESA (previously JSA) and my Mother and Father between them get HB, Disability (higher for Father middle for Mother and carers allowance), pension and pension credit.

 

Our HB is paid monthly for the cost of the rent (50% Father and 50% myself) and I transfer my money to Father who pays rent from his account. As we are joint tenants (1 room each) we get the 50% of actual rent each.

 

If we were to move house would we still be entitled to (in the same area) the 50% each as long as we do a joint tenancy? Also, at the moment our rent is £700pcm so we get £350pcm each - of we found somewhere nicer at say £800pcm would we get the £400pcm as long as it remained within the allowance for the council?

 

I think the single rate in my council is around £444pcm so in effect would it be feasible to look for somewhere at £888pcm (we are not but want to maybe go a bit higher at say £800pcm) or would the council see it as 'no need to move if not given notice' or 'why should we pay more when you should be decreasing value not increasing' or would itbe exercising our right to fall in the allowance guidelines whatever we choose to do?

 

A bit confusing but a few issues with landlord and agreement is up mid December so if possible want to look at options.

 

Many thanks

[id6052]

the council are unlikely to be in the least bit concerned

 

local housing allowance rates are fixed by VOA which is independent of the Council - you are free to shop around and live where you want

 

if your rent is less than or equal to LHA rate, you are eligible for help towards full rent

if your rent is more than LHA rate, you would need to make up any shortfall

[essexmat]

Thanks, I just called housing office and they don't let you have more for moving to a higher value as other stuff is taken in to consideration - will need to find out more. They also said (not sure how true it is) that if Father is disabled and in private sector no bedroom tax on renting 3 bed instead of 2 even though 2 is entitlement is that right?

[id6052]

the bedroom tax only applies to social landlord properties

 

LHA applies to private landlord tenancies

 

so you cant be affected by both

 

if your parents require an additional bedroom for a non-resident overnight carer - then they can be allowed an additional bedroom for the carer