Should He Pay? Or am I being U?

[fedupandfifty]

I have a cousin with quite severe mental health difficulties, who has quite a lor of support from social services, friends and family. He is living in very poor conditions at the moment, owns his house and lives on benefits. He also has a substantial amount of money in the bank. I have just taken on a property as a landlord and I am considering offering it to him. It's not in his area but is immaculate. I run my properties as an additional source of income and need the rent money as my work patterns are erratic and my DD is also unemployed at the moment. My question is: if he accepts my offer should I charge him rent?

why does he need new accomadation?

don't do it.

If he owns his house why would he rent?

Also, would his condition be a cause of concern for non payment, damage to the place etc?

You should charge rent, even if reduced.

Well, as he's your cousin, he probably wouldn't be able to claim housing benefit.

Housing Benefit application forms now question whether you, your partner or children are related to a letting agent's partner, even.

Yes charge him but why not sort his house out if he has all this spare cash? and if he has a substancial amount of money in the bank, why is he on benefits?

Personally I would never mix family and business - it rarely works IME.

You've just said you need the rent money.
Why are you asking if you should charge him rent?

Don't, whatever you do, do this. 1) whether you charge or don't charge, it is likely to be a cause for upset (you upset or him or other family etc), 2) your immaculate property is likely to look like his current one soon- unless he has OCD, most severe MH conditions mean that personal hygiene and tidyness get neglected.
( and sorry, I did not mean to be offensive, I know there are exceptions to this rule!)
If he has money, he needs a receiver to sort finances and pay for putting house back into habitable condition!

No, don't offer it to him, mixing family & friends with business almost always ends in somethign going wrong

Why would he want to rent if he owns his house anyway? Wouldn't it be better to suggest he uses some of this money in the bank to get his house more up to scratch?

Dont really understand what you are asking here to be honest.

You say you need the money, but are thinking of not charging him, which sounds contradictory.

He has his own home and is not looking for a new home. Why would he want to rent when he owns his house?

If you need the money then you have to charge rent. How can you consider offering it to him free when the reason you have it is because you need to make money from it?

Does he want to move?

Is there any significance in your mentioning that he has a lot of money?

Thanks for your comments. Glad that you think it's not a good idea!! Tiffany - He needs new accommodation because he can't cope in his house because it's too big for him and needs modernisation. Cook- renting may be an option for him as he is unable to take responsibility for maintaining his own property. He wouldn't be on housing benefit due to his assets, and is claiming non-means testing benefits including attendance allowance, which he lives on. Anushka - you're right - he does have poor personal hygiene but is very canny with money. He will not do anything about the state of his house (partly due to his condition, and partly because he's tight!!). I wasn't sure if I should be duty-bound to offer him my house free as he's my closest remaining relative, but you've all helped me clear my conscience - thanks!

The obvious answer given the circumstances is for him to sell his current house and use the proceeds to buy something more appropriate for his needs.

I don't see that you have any obligations here - it's not like he's homeless and you're his only hope. He's got a sizeable investment in the shape of a house plus he's got money in the bank. There are a lot of options open to him.

Sorry squeaky and hecate - didn't see your messages. He needs to move on, because his condition is not improving and he will not be able to cope for much longer. His social worker is very supportive but is unable to get him to make decisions regarding his future, and I thought that maybe giving him a solution on a plate would help him, and although I really could do with that rent money, that perhaps I should prioritise him as a close family member.