Comments on: Taking In Lodgers- ‘Rent-A-Room’ Scheme

By: matt

matt — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:44:00 +0000

hi thanx jeremy looks like i may have to go with normal private renting due to the affect it will have if he claims too so thanx again for your reply and hopefully i will be ok now thanx from matt

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:00:46 +0000

Hello Matt,

Seeing how no-one else has answered you, I’ll try, but I’m not a world-authority on DSS.

Your circumstances make me think you’d be eligable for Local Housing Allocance because you’re a job seeker and get it because you’ve qualified for Jobseeker’s allowance.

As long as your contact offers you a proper tenancy and has a real landlord relationship with you (i.e. he’s not a mate who’d be willing to put you up for free, but fancies seeing if he can get his hands on some handout money) then you can claim, probably successfully.

The LHA which you pay this bloke then becomes his income and he would need to delcare it as part of his submission for benefits.

Potentially (and I don’t know the rules) this could reduce or remove any benefits he is entitled to.

By: frediewins

frediewins — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:35:59 +0000

Hi there,

I’m retired and live in Florida, USA. I was born in England and have live in the US for many years. Now I would LOVE to spend summers in England and my winters back here in Florida. Finding this article about the rent-a-room scheme, well, perhaps I have found a way to do it–wondering if this will suit what I want to do. I am still a British subject (dual citizenship, actually), I’m a 67 year old female. Kindly advise. Many thanks, Fredie

By: matt

matt — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:41:24 +0000

my 2nd question is that i am signing on but sofa hopping and want to rent a flat, but i dont have deposits or rent in advance.also a few agencies i have asked,have asked for credit checks to be done or a gaurantor how can i get over this problem or what can i do about it??….im not sure if i wud pass a credit check and i cannot get a guarantor so i feel stuck sofa hopping please help…i am by the way in a new town and am currently searching franticly for a job with a few leads on the horizon but till then i really need to sort out how i can rent on dss until the happy job day comes thanks all…

By: matt

matt — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:31:04 +0000

hi im currently sofa hopping and on dss…i recently spoke to a bloke who has just been made redundant but owns a big house with a bedroom and en suite shower downstairs….he has had to make a claim for benefits his self for now (prob wont be long term as he is very qualified)buthe has a family with two kids to claim for…..i told him i am on dss but currently have nowhere to live permanent he has said if i can get housing benefit he would be prepared to let me rent the downstairs room and ensuite…my question is 1..would this affect his benefits and 2.would i be eligible to claim housing benefit for this service…thanks any replies would be appreciated….

By: Carol

Carol — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:27:27 +0000

my son moved in with me some years ago and helps me to pay my morgage he has recently become unemployed, signed on Monday 16th Jan 12, not had any allowance yet
but indications are that because we are mother and son he won’t get any help

By: Phil

Phil — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:25:44 +0000

Im thinking about taking on a lodger but I’m a bit concerned about the following:
1) what happens if they run up huge utility bills and leave before they are produced?
2) are we allowed to place there names on the utility bills?
Look forward in hearing any advice

By: sue

sue — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:36:34 +0000

i took in a lodger last year, a young lady who fled home to domestic violence. she claims income support and housing benefit to pay her rent. since christmas she has been back in touch with her family and stayed there most of the time with a view to moving back with them. i dont want to put her under any pressure to leave my property as i want her to be sure she has made the right choice. she still has the key to my house and told me it is still her home, also she s free to come and go as before. By law am i still entitled to the housing benefit i receive (which is currently suspended as she did some seasonal work at christmas). i dont want to break any rules and this situation is bothering me quite a bit!

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 10:16:11 +0000

Thanks for your kind words, Soley.

Don might be in a position where money is so desperately tight that he feels compelled to do this, regardless of any moral stance. Sometimes it’s hard to do the right thing if you’re desperate! We just don’t know that part of Don’s story. But I hope he does not. Not just because it’s not really the right thing, but also there’s a good chance he’ll get caught. Then whatever problems he’s got to contend with right now will get loads worse.

By: Soley

Soley — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 02:42:43 +0000

@Jeremy

Love the reply. Awesome. People dont care for their dignity anymore. Everyone has a hand out demanding a free ride with no shame at all.