I've lied to get a house

[harveyyspecter]

And now I'm up shit creek. Don't ask why I did it because I panicked and my mouth started moving before I engaged my brain.

I'm trying to rent a house but no one will accept that I'm on housing benefit and will be going to work next year when dd goes to nursery. So I had a viewing the other day and when they asked about work I said I'm going to work in January. This is partly true.

When she asked if I have a job to go to I said yes I have no idea why and now I'm in a mess!

I know I'm AIBU but help!!

Tell them job fell through tomorrow and see what they say

I hope you can get it sorted OP - might be best to fess up or say 'sorry there must be a misunderstanding I said I was starting work in Jan'

When you say you have to leave the current house in December ... Why ? Sorry if I've missed it ... I'd be staying where you are

You CAN be evicted for this as it would be a 'false declaration' on your tenancy agreement, it would also be regarded as intentionally homeless so the council would not be obliged to home you.

Be honest, give them a call and tell them the truth.

Why have you to be out of current address by christmas? I strongly advise contacting shelter.

Yes, negotiating more time would be the simplest solution.

they pay UP TO a maximum of £175

They don't.

They pay a maximum of 70% of that. So If your childcare costs are £100 a week you'll get 70% of that.

If your costs are £175 a week you'll get 70% of that.

If your costs are £200 a week you'll still get 70% of £175 per week.

They don't ever pay out £175 a week. that's just the maximum amount they'll use for childcare calculations.

Yes or staying with family/friends until you have the job of you could, lying seems likely to add more stress to your life, not reduce it. You may get away with it, but you'll be healing extra worry on yourself until the job materialises

In theory yes, but honestly people get in a right state about this stuff. My pore you's tenants trashed the place, didn't pay rent for 7 months and still got a warning from the judge the first time as they promised to sort everything out. The second time they were in court they got given 8 weeks to get out because they had a child - aged 17 !
It's a lot harder than you think to get evicted you really do have to fuck up

I must let them know they are paying me too much to much then!

Well yes ghost because there are penalties. And they never accept its their fault

I was in a similar situation, about to be made homeless, had applied in advance for HB. Emailed every letting agent within four miles of DC schools. None of them would consider me (even though I could prove I had enough income/savings to cover the rent, which was £100+ over what HB would pay). I got very fucking lucky and got a council place at the last minute - is this an option for you? Council rents are usually much lower, and they're better landlords, IME.

yeah I hate to break it to you but the landlord will be contacted to make sure you're a tenant before housing benefit make any payments. how else do they know a claim is legit? there is no way to claim housing benefit without a landlord knowing.

source: been claiming hb for a couple of years

You need to tell them the job fell through and see what they say. It's rubbish but you could be evicted if you lie about the HB. As others have said often the landlord's hands are tied as it's a clause in the mortgage.

Pissed off - please tell me you do have liability insurance! If something goes wrong in the property and your tenants sue you, how are you going to cover that cost? What about if something happens to the house, a fire or a flood, that renders it uninhabitable? What happens to your tenants then?

What happens is they sue my ex husband. It's s very odd situation mine, but when I looked into landlords insurance it was a complete joke, I doubt everyone has it, same as not everyone has a mortgage either

As a landlord I can say that loads of tenants lie about HB.Provide fake references and 'bought' payslips.Letting agents only care about their commission and turn a blind eye to obvious fakes.My LL insurance still covers me if the letting agent has told me thay are not FB however half-arsed their check were

This is shocking. Why will being on benefits invalidate landlords insurance?

I've actually just had to sign up and get an account to reply to this! You will categorically NOT be ''breaking the law'' this is a civil matter so at worst they will find out and say no and you'll lose any money paid\they find out down the line and it's breach of contract, even then they'd have to prove some kind of loss to obtain any kind of remedy. Please though, one single mum to another, do yourself a favour and try really hard to get into work to save yourself from this in the future, even if you're not much better off at first. It will pay off eventually!

dontcrynow I'm not convinced it does at all, it's balance of probability around paying the rent. As long as the tenant pays its just not an issue at all. It's inly if the landlord makes a claim on the insurance to evict them or claim lost rent that if the insurance company can prove from day one the landlord knew they couldn't afford it they won't pay. But my friend is an insurance broker and said if the tenant is a brunette with a letter T in their name and born in Basingstoke they won't pay either

There you go op..... plenty of people encouraging you to take a chance, risk it.....

If it's through a letting agent you will be referenced and the truth will out. Sorry x

It's a clause in the insurance policy (or it was in ours) that it is invalid if the tenant is on HB. Presumably if you know they are on HB you can tell the insurance company and they can decline or raise the premiums (more likely, I'd have thought!).

It doesn't matter if it is the landlord's preference or their insurance/mortgage terms - they are able to specify it.

OP, I would hate you to lose that deposit though so please think again. January is not a good time to get a job!

Dontcry - it depends on the type of insurance they have. If it's just bog standard buildings then it should make no difference. But if they have proper LL insurance with liability cover then there are usually conditions attached to it about ensuring references are taken etc.

Likewise many LL policies come with extensions available such as rent guarantee. This means that if a tenant moves in and refuses to pay then the LL can claim against their policy for the loss of rent and also the cost of pursuing eviction. Or if there is a major claim - such as a fire - which means the property is uninhabitable whilst under repair then they can claim for loss of rent. The RG cover is usually dependent on renting to professionals and some will specify that you cannot have tenants on benefits. The reason being that the claims incidence is typically much higher.

Pissed off - but what about if your home floods (as an example) and they cannot remain there. Are you able to cover the cost of alternative accommodation for them?

The standard way round problems for non standard applicants, at least in London, to offer to pay six months rent in advance. Is there any way you could do that?

Also offer references from previous landlords.

The problem though is that the standard tactic for someone who wants social housing and who would be a high priority, like a single mum, is to find a private let, stop paying rent and then sit tight till you are evicted. At which point the Council are obliged to rehouse you.

Which is why LLs will be reluctant to take you on. However having a guarantor should help.

I do wish that people wouldn't lie about receiving hb.
It isn't the LL fault that their mortgage company or insurance say no.
You are jeopardising their home or payout if claim is required.

Some LL aren't affected by this as it isn't stipulated by their insurers and they don't have a mortgage.

Any LL who does accept it knowingly and their mortgage/ insurers stipulate no hb could lose their property.