Rent Help On Uc!

itssnowwhite

Hello everyone good evening I wonder if someone could help me with a question ive got.

Myself and my family are looking to rent a property but my dad wants to pay our rent. Me and my mum are on universal credit but my dad works full time and has lots of savings.

My parents are divorced and my dad won't be living with us,but he'll be paying the rent,is this allowed? As its asking about total household income and employment status.

Would my dad still be included in the household income if the tenancy would be joint?

Thanks everyone

itssnowwhite

By the way this is not council this will be private

poppy123456

If your dad paid the rent it would have no affect on your UC. Are you also aware that you can claim for help with your rent through UC known as housing element?

Whether your dad is named on the tenancy agreement or lived with you, he's not part of your household for benefits purposes. However, if you did claim for help with the rent through UC and he's named on the tenancy agreement then you would only receive a portion of your rent.

itssnowwhite

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/970589#Comment_970589

Hi Poppy we can't claim housing element we've tried before. But I'm just wondering if we can rent you see without my dad living with us,

Thank you

OverlyAnxious

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/970595#Comment_970595

Hi,

If you're asking whether a landlord would accept someone paying rent who doesn't live at the property then yes, that is legally allowed, though each landlord can still choose whether to accept that setup or not.

Housing Element on UC can only be claimed after you start renting. Perhaps that's why it was refused before if you weren't renting at the time? If you're able to claim UC, I'm unsure why else you would be refused the Housing Element?

WhatThe

Because the dad would be named on the tenancy?

itssnowwhite

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/970834#Comment_970834

Thank you that's great to know! As for claiming housing benefit we've never gotten it before as they said because my mum has two children including myself 18+ she would only get enough payment for one bedroom.

OverlyAnxious

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/970837#Comment_970837

You're welcome. Housing Benefit has now been replaced with Housing Element on UC.

For private renting, it still works the same with regards to the LHA. There is a maximum entitlement based on bedroom need. And any extra has to be paid out of other money (UC/PIP etc).

As you and your Mum are both on UC and both living together but not as a couple, I believe you can both claim the Housing Element to help with rent, as long as you are both part of the tenancy agreement. If you are under 35 then your allowance would only be shared rate, and your Mum's would be one bedroom rate. Though it depends on other family members circumstances as well, and whether you get PIP for example, so we would need a bit information to confirm the exact entitlement.

itssnowwhite

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/970836#Comment_970836

yes my dad will be on the tenancy