Council flat deposit

[combatbarbie]

Hi,

Long time lurker but posting for traffic. Have a huge backstory with DBil constantly asking for money. He is 35 and appears to be the unluckiest man in the world, can never get benefits money, never has money to pay his flat share rent, never has money to feed himself, can not hold a job or when he does cash in hand jobs he never gets paid etc etc

Anyway, he now appears to have got to the top of the council waiting list and is viewing 2 today. Both are apparently brand new builds so am assuming it's a private/council/HA split.

He has said he needs £100 deposit to give to the council until his housing benefit application processes in 6 weeks, I don't doubt the HB but more the £100 deposit.

Given he has form for lying, last time we gave him money he apparently washed it and it was destroyed... I have done this plenty times myself so know that currency is waterproof.

AIBU to think he's trying to pull a fast one? Will quite happily get back in my box if it's the norm

[scifisam]

I'm on the housing register for my borough in London and for some flats, esp newbuilds (like the one you're talking about) they do request a deposit of sorts - it's usually one week's rent up front so £100 sounds right. It doesn't make any difference if you're on benefits. See the example below.

There used to be a social fund for things like this (deposits, furniture, other large payments - you'd apply for the money and then it would gradually be taken out of your benefits) but it's been discontinued.

This wasn't the case a few years ago so anyone telling you it's not true needs to make sure their facts are up-to-date.

[ReginaBlitz]

You have to pay the first month or weeks rent upfront most ha. What was he washing money for?! Strange

[SilentBob]

I was on benefits and full hb when I had to move into temporary council accommodation.

I had to pay the shortfall of £42 which was for my first month's rent.

I then had to find money for gas and electricity.

So I did need £82 or thereabouts to move in, but it wasn't a deposit.

My local council have a scheme whereby I could have bought appliances etc cheaper than at shops and whatnot, his May be the same.

Otherwise freecycle all the way.

[Alfieisnoisy]

Interesting to see the variation in replies. Am guessing that any advance rent depends on the social landlord. I definitely paid a weeks rent up front here (HA) and almost sure I did the same with the council. Am in Essex.

[sashh]

Give him a cheque made out to the landlord.

[NaughtToThreeSadOnions]

I think thsts probably the case combat he could well have said advance payment or something and your parents in law have taken it as he's meant deposit. In private rentals it's a month in adv ance and deposit so maybe they've presumed similar. Like you say just a little lost in translation.

[NaughtToThreeSadOnions]

Oh well he'll have to sort out the furnace recycling if he's entitled their pretty strict, that was why I suggested it it's not something you can do, well you could go to the shop and buy it for higher cost than him. But if he's entitled to use it it's far better he sorts it out than you, or your PIL.

It does sound like it's time for him to stand on his own two feet. I do understand your suspicions over this, tic summed it it's the boy who's called wolf. There are ways to help without being involved so he can use you again. Sounds like you've made the decision enough is enough it's probably what he needs!

[Hestheone]

I'm in a council house and I've previously lived in a HA house,neither asked for deposits

[combatbarbie]

Going from the replies I'm guessing the terminology may well have been lost in translation, deposit/advance of rent.... these things happen in 3 way conversations

[DeathMetalMum]

I'm pretty certain we had to pay a months ren in advance. Not a deposit though.

[Alfieisnoisy]

He sounds like my exH. His mother is still enabling him even tho he is nearly 50. My exFIL doesn't know the half of it.

[ttc2015]

If everyone enables him all his life then he will never take responsibility, your DH should recognise that when PILs have passed on he will in effect become 'chief enabler' and responsible so better to nip in the bud next time he's being a chancer.

Whether he is or not now...could be either. Some have, some haven't. Your local council will know, you can find out there. The problem is if someone is always a user and chancer then the times they genuinely are in need will be looked upon with suspicion- much like the boy who cried wolf.

[combatbarbie]

I know he's likely to get something towards decorating and he may well be being legitimate and finally sorting his life out but with his history and background I generally just don't trust anything that comes out his mouth, especially when he cannot be bothered to ask for anything himself, always running via MIL. The boy that cried wolf is how I see him unfortunately.

I will volunteer the info about furniture recycling but I sure as hell am not about to start enabling him by sorting stuff out for him. He's 35 FFS.

[FrizzyPig]

I had to pay a weeks rent upfront to get the keys to my HA property a few years ago (and had to borrow it off my sister too!).

[NaughtToThreeSadOnions]

Well try reading the number of people on this thead that have said they had to a weeks advance payment wax did we all just give up our money for nothing did we all trying it on were we!

combatebarbie do you have a furniture recycling project he should be entitled to that, as for decorating it's very likely he'll get a voucher from the HA. Just if he try's it on for that stuff!

[lougle]

Wax,that isn't true. They do expect payment in advance.

[waxmytash]

He is trying it on.

HA and LA know that HB claims take time to process In addition to this they'll also be well aware that someone on benefits totaling £60 ish per week is hardly likely to ever afford a £100 deposit.

[combatbarbie]

Ok prepared to put up and shut up on this one. Just waiting on next phone call to help him buy furniture. We have already told MIL to tell him to use gumtree/free cycle.

BIL won't talk to us, everything comes through MIL because he doesn't like talking to DH as he's always questioning him about when he's going to sort his life out and stop demanding money off MIL

[BedTimeNow]

combatbarbie it's not a deposit but with council properties you have to pay at least a weeks rent upfront whether you receive housing benefit or not.

[StormSwept]

Some housing associations do ask for a deposit, the local authority wouldn't usually ask for a deposit to move in with, unless it's the rent team asking for this, as most local authority tenancies rents are payable in advance (usually never happens!) each week, but this would be pretty rare.

But it's worth noting that lots and lots of people mistakenly call housing associations 'the council/council house' when talking of social housing.

[NaughtToThreeSadOnions]

Yes I had to pay my first weeks rent in advance myself as I hadn't sorted out my HB to HA, it was £82 give or take I was in desparate situation (I'd been homeless living in hotel for two weeks again out of my own money). I am working but I'm aspergers and on DLA so do get full housing benefit. This was only the end of January so not that long ago.

Not sure what would have happened directly from the council but all the housing associations were certianly asking for a week in advance.

[vaticancameos]

This is a screen shot of a typical housing association advert on Bristol Homechoixe

[bippityboppitypoo]

I've lived in council and HA non require a deposit. It's affordable housing, deposits are not affordable!

[crumblybiscuits]

I got full housing benefit and still had to pay the first week or two rent.

[lougle]

We had to pay two weeks' rent up front as a deposit and the first week's rent on the day we collected the keys (so 3x rent in total), so it may well be true. The conditions should be freely available to check -my council publishes the tenant handbook online.