Can my elderly father who is looking to rent, rent my spare room and claim housing benefit?

[beckya44]

My father who has previously been renting a property and receiving housing benefit but the tenancy is ending so will need to move. I have a spare bedroom in my roperty which I am looking to rent out. Could he claim housing benefit to live in my property?

It's been a while since I worked in benefits but I don't think rent is payable to family members. Give your local council a call. Speak to the housing benefits department.

Have a look here it says that people living with a close relative are not considered to be responsible for the rent on the property, and therefore not eligible for housing benefit.

I don't think a close relative can. Would he really need to claim housing benefit if he's just lodging with you? Wouldn't he get mate's rates?

Thanks for your reply. I will call my council.
As much as I would love to give him mates rates I do need to charge for the spare room and would usually have a lodger but was just an idea to rent to him.

I had a friend who lived in the house next door to her parents which they owned and rented to her. She did get HB for it because they would normally rent it out otherwise. Maybe if you're doing it on that basis they might, worth a try.

Please let me know what they say. As Im in the same suitation

A house next door would be different. There is a specific rule about renting a room in your house to a "close family" member. When I last checked, you could not get HB.

It sounds like the sort if thing you can only do if you are an MP!