to think that that state should pay people's mortgage payments if their circumstances change and they lose their income?

[FlouncingMintyy]

Am I right in thinking that this doesn't happen at the moment and that housing benefit only covers rent?

[gaelicsheep]

'In lots of cases, mortgage payments are less than rent as people can only mortgage what their income allows unlike those on HB who can rent what they like.'

We have relocated and are having to rent for the foreseeable future. We have really struggled to find anywhere at all to live, and every single place advertised says no DSS. If we needed to claim housing benefit I think we'd be on the streets. Houses to rent around here are like hen's teeth - with so many people chasing them, I wonder how anyone on HB manages to find a home.

[expatinscotland]

I spent the better part of an afternoon last weekend window shopping in every estate agent and letting agent from the top of Leith Walk in Edinburgh to its foot.

The rents were staggering and all 'No DSS'.

[BigAudioDynamite]

I don't BTL. My sister rented our her flat for a while whilst she was moving to a different area. She was told that if the mortgage company and insurance aren't aware that you are renting your property, then the insurance is void (i think). It's quite a big risk, if that is the case? Although, saying that, my parents have never even had building insurance!

[LahleeMooloo]

The country is broke, there isn't enough money to cover what we're currently paying out let alone anything extra!

[FlouncingMintyy]

I don't know if you have read the whole thread Lahlee but my op and many of the posts following it are based on the fact that is is very often cheaper to pay mortgage interest than rent.

[FlouncingMintyy]

Edinburgh is a hugely expensive city to live in.

[Talkinpeace]

Mintyy
agreed
but I could not afford to buy the house I've lived in for 16 years, because prices have risen so far above sane multiples ....

goodness knows how the people done the road afford rent of five times my mortgage payment
other than an HB subsidy
in which case the only gainer is my former neighbour who is now living in his mums house rent and mortgage free (and good luck to him : we are still friends)

[FlouncingMintyy]

Talky, I know all about insane house price rises. We cannot afford to move from a 3 bed 1 bath to a 4 bed 2 bath even though you might expect to be able to do so after a salary increase of something like £50,000 pa over the past 8 years. Ftbs are worst affected, sure, but everyone who isn't a squillionaire feels the knock-on effects.

[samandi]

YABU. People should take out mortgage protection and if something unforeseen happens that is not covered they can some help towards mortgage payments.

[Talkinpeace]

samandi
The number of successful claims on Mortgage Protection insurance is vanishingly small
that is why the banks are being fined millions and millions of pounds for mis-selling it.

to my knowledge I am one of the very, very few people who ever got money out of such a policy, and that was in 1987