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!!

Don't worry about it. They'll either catch you out in the credit checks or they won't. They probably don't believe you anyway tbf

Gilly- how would they lose their property? It would potentially invalidate an insurance claim, not lead to repossession

It's likely That such clauses (which are very old fashioned, although admittedly people don't update their insurance or mortgage frequently) will be deemed illegal not only for
Being discriminatory but because LL can no longer tell if a tenant is on HB

You are jeopardising their home or payout if claim is required.

They'd have to be complete idiots to tackle any problems by defaulting on their own residential mortgage, TBH.

Oh, I did this throughout the time I was self-employed on tax credits. I'd fill in my own company name on the form, then write a letter on my own company letterhead saying I employed me

I may have slightly exaggerated my salary.

Ridiculous rules sometimes require ridiculous compliance.

Not every la asks the landlord about your tenancy if you are in receipt of HB. Mine doesn't: they just want the contract of proof if tenancy.
Re insurance: online companies e.g. simple landlords do not want non working tenants, brokers will easily find cover but it can cost more.

Maybe you meant to give yourself a raise but are just capricious garlic

They could lose their mortgage if they lied about accepting hb, I've heard of it happening, my ds is a mortgage broker.
You fraud your provider and they can and will.
There are mortgage and insurance companies that allow hb to be used by tenants, you just choose one of those if it bothers you.

I have had tenants on hb, insurers were fine and I don't have a mortgage.

You said you'd got a job to go to, if you now say you can't produce employer references because the job fell through it's no big deal. It does mean you don't get the property but I honestly can't see any other repercussions to be worried about.

Where I live HB is called rent allowance/benefit. You would have to fill out a form with all the property details and then the LL has to fill out a similar form with proof of ownership of the property etc..In Ireland you won't see a penny of RA before all the forms have been received.
How different is it in the UK?

I was told by a letting agent that the problem with HB tenants is that they are in the house more than working tenants, therefore, the risk of a claim is higher.

Although it's not technically right I really cannot blame you at all. In the end, it is not very likely that anything awful will happen. And before long you will have a job anyway.

It's very different in the UK Lucybabs.

Thanks Lottie

You're not wrong there, Manumission! The problem was my employer not managing to bring in enough high-paying clients

I don't understand that gilly, if you rent to a working person they could lose their job and go on HB and you couldn't legally evict them so what could the mortgage company do? Sound like they're acting illegally

Well what you've done isn't very fair is it? Lots of landlords don't accept HB for a very reason, cheating them isn't on. You need to come clean.

"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."

This would be classed as intentionally homeless, the council would only have a duty to rehouse you for 28 days and then you're on your own-so not really the best advice.

OP, I would send an email to the agent and suggest they forward it to the LL as further info on prospective tenant. Do not address any lie. Just say that as you explained you will be returning to work next year but the details are not finalised so an employer reference is not yet possible. You will initially be using HB to for the first month or few until settled in work. You can try to sell yourself a bit by saying that you understand It may not be ideal but you are v reliable.....offer a personal ref if possible etc, offer terms of contract they wish re length of tenancy, break clause.
If the LL can't take HB then it won't help, but otherwise it might so worth a try.

I have a guarantor as well. I'm mad at myself for lying but I have to be out of my current house by Christmas.

Can your current landlord provide a reference?

Yeah I can get a landlord reference too. Sending an email to the agent to pass on to the landlord is a good idea I will try that.

I don't see how its the landlords business tbh. As long as you can pay the rent thats all that matters.

If only they saw it that way

Private renting is a nightmare.

Fingers crossed for you OP. You sound like a great potential tenant. A personal email to the LL is the way to go. Not an emotional plea, but business like & factual with a reference from your current LL or if you want to move quickly, offer current LL reference and forward it regardless as soon as it is received. Also reference from your guarantor saying how they know you, how long, how incredibly honest you are etc which is why the are happy to be your guarantor.
Hope you succeed & good luck in the New Year.

matching that's the same question I had whilst reading this. So to those in the know these policies where there is a clause stating the policy would be invalid if HB pays the rent - what happens if a previously employed tenant lost their job and had to claim HB?

I've read a few posts about landlord insurance. My parents, brother and I all own rentals. None of us have this insurance. So not all ll have this.