About housing benefit

[MyHappyFish]

I am a home owner and the house is very overcrowded, if I sign the house over to my ex partner ( kids dad ) and I rent a house privately would I be able to claim housing benefits as I’m no longer a homeowner? Thanks

Housing benefit is only a thing if you are retired, otherwise it’s UC and it would depend on your circumstances and income, but it’s unlikely due to the deprivation of assets (signing the house over)

It would only be local housing allowance so unlikely to cover the full cost of the private rent. The top up you would pay to cover the difference may actually be more than your mortgage payment. Private rent is extortionate!

No chance - it's all UC these days so if you are under Pension age you cannot claim HB very much doubt you would get UC housing costs.

Might have to pay stamp duty www.gov.uk/guidance/sdlt-transferring-ownership-of-land-or-property

What do you mean by signing the house over to your ex? You mean removing yourself from the deeds and relinquishing ownership? That seems a daft thing to do to be honest.

Sounds like deprivation of assets surely? You can’t just give a house away for free then plead poverty!

Any reason why you can’t sell the house and get a mortgage on a bigger one, like everyone else has to do? Can any of the people overcrowding the house contribute to costs?

If the house is jointly owned by you and your ex then Universal credit would expect steps to be taken towards selling it so that the equity can be split. If the house is on the market then it can be disregarded for a while and they may help with rent. It would need to go to a UC decision maker. Just giving away half a house with not really be viewed favorably and it's likely that you could be treated as if you still have that capital. Basically you cannot give away assets to then claim means tested benefits.