Anyone know the rules on renting from family whilst getting help from UC?

[J333gr]

We currently live in a 2 bed council flat and have outgrown it. Realistically it will be 2/3 years before we are moved to a 3 bed. My dad has a 3 bed house which he doesn’t live in. Anyone know if I could rent this from him if I get a bit of my rent paid by UC? He has a mortgage to pay etc so I would still be paying 100% of whatever a normal tenant would pay.

Look up contrived tenancy.
Provided it isn't contrived it's permitted.

I believe as long as you have an official tenancy and it's treated as such then yes you can.

My dad has a 3 bed house which he doesn’t live in

Has it been rented out previously?

I looked into this a while back and it said as long as he would basically be prepared to make you homeless if you couldn't pay then yes.

@TangerineGenie not officially no. His mate lives there at the moment and just pays for a room

They are quite strict and will look into it I imagine. Not sure what proof is required.

If it's never been rented out previously, you'll have trouble arguing it's not a contrived tenancy

Maybe evidence of payments from past tenant.

It would be difficult to get much evidence as he’s only been moved out for a few months into his new partners house. I’m really hoping they’d allow it if they could pay directly to him as a landlord