Aibu -father wants me to commit fraud!!?

[pumpkinsweetie]

As some of you may know, my father is also my landlord. Boiler was serviced 4 days ago and then condemned. We have been without heating and hot water for over a week due to boiler being declared dangerous by gas meter engineer.
Landlord/df came over yesterday, promised to fit an immersion and get me electric radiators until he has the money to complete it (apparently £4000). So fine and dandy thought atleast we were getting somewhere (sigh)..........until today: he has rung me and asked me to pretend i own the house so i can get a grant for the boiler!!

Wtaf: my own df is now expecting ME to commit fraud to save his own neck. Mentioned immersion to him, he said maybe monday, maybe tues.

Even if i went ahead with this crazed idea, it will not work as im not in receipt of any of the benefits needed to get one!

I obviously said to him i will be found out, he said "no you won't they won't look into who owns the house"?!!- knowing full well i recieve an amount of hb, of course they will know my name and address and know im RENTING
Wwyd

How on earth can you be claiming housing benefit?

I wouldn't have anything to do with it.

I didn't think it was legal to claim HB whilst living in a house that someone related to you owns?

oh heck.

you should not do it. resisiting your father could be more difficult though. do not do it.

At least if you get caught you'll be nice and warm in prison.

Of course you can get hb for rent, regardless of who owns it, as long as its not any of the tenants.

YANBU btw. Of course they will find out, they will ask for proof of ownership! Tell your df you gift you the house and then you will apply :)

england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/housing_benefit_and_local_housing_allowance/housing_benefit_if_renting_from_a_family_member

If you live in a property owned by a family member and pay them rent, you may be entitled to housing benefit. The council will want to take a detailed look at your agreement with your landlord. You won?t get housing benefit if:

you're not paying rent on a commercial basis

the arrangement has been set up to take advantage of the housing benefit system ? this is called a ?contrived tenancy?. For example, if your landlord only asks you to pay rent when you are not working (and so are eligible for housing benefit), but not when you are working (and earning too much to qualify for housing benefit), this would be a contrived tenancy.

I shall not be taking part in it whatsoever.
We get wtaxcreds & chtaxcreds and yes we are entitled to hb and its all above board. Im just upset he could expect this of me.
Wish i had enough money to move but it will take me months to save
What can i do about getting hot water & heating im at my wits end?

Move. He is a bad landlord.

Are the authorities aware that your landlord is your father as you've technically got a 'contrived tenancy' so shouldn't be eligible for HB under normal circumstances.

Re: Lying. Don't do it. Conspiracy to commit fraud is a really serious offence. Your father has legal obligations as a landlord and it's not up to you to break the law to help him out.

What is he doing with the rent you pay him? Is he declaring it to the tax man as a source of income?

What can i do about getting hot water & heating im at my wits end?

Speak to Shelter 0808 800 4444 or after the Bank Holiday contact your council. They should have someone who deals with private tenancies.

Is it not the boiler as such that's upsetting you, but rather that your dad thinks so little of how you feel?

How will he react if you just keep saying no? Will he pressure you to change your mind? Threaten to evict you?

Have you consulted shelter/ a lawyer about claiming hb to pay to your dad?
It will be you who gets into trouble not him.

I didn't think you could get grants for a free boiler unless you are on disability allowance or suchlike anyway?

But you can get those grants if you are renting I think.

Have you reported him to the council yet for not giving you a safe boiler or an annual gas certificate as that is what I would be doing.

marjory why would the op need to consult anyone about claiming hb to pay to her dad. If OP is treated like any other tenant then this isn't illegal.

To get help with the boiler, would i get my dad into trouble?
However much he is hurting me by treating me this way i can't find it within myself to report him, wouldn't phoning shelter ultimately be reporting his lack of duty ?

So he is prepared to see you go without?

I am sorry but a dodgy boiler could kill you - I would definitely report him, I am sorry but his behaviour is beyond disgraceful.

Why should you apply for free central heating just because he doesn't want to pay for it.

Lemarch-Not really no, sadly
Fed up with having no hot water, and upset my own df treating me like nothing.
If i phone Shelter what sort of help would i get?
It is going to take me atleast 5 months to save all i need to move: deposit, rent in hand, removal lorry etc, but i cannot find many houses in my area that are in my price range, it would mean moving to another town and ive only just started my 3yo to school

You could tell him you've applied and they said no. He wouldn't ^be getting any of the correspondence anyway.

I believe you are within your rights to pay for the boiler yourself (easier said than done) and deduct the cost from your rent. Hopefully someone with more knowledge can confirm or deny this.