Sorry this is quite long, NC as potentially outing.
DH and I live in a property owned by his sister. SIL property is perfect for us. When we moved in we had been claiming housing benefit on the previous property, SIL asked us not to continue our claim when we moved into her property as she had trouble in the past. She said she would adjust the rent to reflect this, stating she wasn't worried about making profit.
We agreed to £X amount, which is still a substantial amount of our income but do-able. DH and I have had a rough few years but everything is picking up and I have accepted a new job offer which means we wouldn't be entitled to HB once I start so we figured we could get by on a tighter budget for a few months.
No lease had been signed when we moved in, but it was a hectic move and the last of our worries as the landlord was obviously family. SIL received various letters and a final notice over council tax. DH went in to the office to change all the details over and put us as tenants so SIL is no longer liable as the house is occupied now. DH was told he would need a lease to do this but SIL refused to issue one and told him to tell the council that she has given him the property. DH questioned this, he is currently out of work until September, she is still paying her mortgage and there was no way he was claiming to own a property when he didn't. DH again asked SIL for a lease or a written agreement that we lived in the property and she as no longer liable, again this was refused and SIL said that we can just pay her the council tax (as if the property was still lying empty) on top of the rent.
Of course it kicked off between DH and SIL as DH doesn't want to commit fraud. DH and I would have no address and the council would have the property marked as empty so the council tax amount would be the rate set for landlords with empty properties .DH and SIL has a massive argument as DH was trying to solve the problem so we could deal with the council tax demands that are still being sent to SIL. She has now said she wants nothing more to do with DH, he is as good as dead to her and we've to move out. SIL owns a very successful business so DH thinks this has something to do with tax avoidance as a landlord.
WWYD in this situation? DH is devastated and I'm furious. AIBU to think that if you agree to taking on tenants, family or otherwise, they still require a lease, and be able to put their name on the council tax?!
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AIBU?
SIL is our Landlord...more of a WWYD
57 replies
albapunk · 21/06/2016 16:02
OP posts:
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