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!!

My current and past landlord didn't have insurance. When dd goes for her nap I'm going to write an email for the agent to pass on to the ll. I've been applying for (real) jobs too.

I genuinely don't know anyone who's got it. I'm a tenant I have contents insurance if the house gets flooded they put me in a hotel. If I didn't have that id be down the council offices I guess. We did actually have a fire once, 8 weeks in a hotel, not fun but that's life.

It's really unfair that seemingly no LL accept HB.Where of recipients of HB supposed to live if the govt refuse to build more social housing?

I take it this sort of discrimination is not covered in law?

I have LL insurance. I also accept HB tenants - the only condition is that they have to be in employment (condition of mortgage and insurance).

PaulDacresConscience - I wouldn't mind betting that actually that's the only clause in every insurance and mortgage. Have the problem is the letting agents with a god complex, they want the easiest life possible which is understandable and with the current rental market as it is that's going to continue.

Pissed off - it wasn't a clause in my first BTL mortgage, years ago, so it didn't matter. Likewise I know of other LL who provide properties for the HA - and one of the eligibility conditions is that the LL needs to be able to let to tenants who are in receipt of HB or not in work. So it depends on the mortgage and/or insurance.

I still dobt understand why mortgage and insurancexompanies wobt allow lettings to people on benefits.

What I can't understand is why it's allowed !

They usually check this using an external reference checking agency who call up and verify with your jib.

Because it's based upon risk. Statistically there is a much higher chance of default for a tenant on benefits. Not saying that it's morally right, but that is the thinking behind it.

Good luck OP. Not all LL are going to turn you away. We let a house earlier this year, letting agent phoned to say first applicant wanted the house, single mum with little girl at the local school and family in the area. Two others booked to view, couples with 2 jobs. I said to go with the lady who wanted it, from my point of view I liked the idea of the little one having family close and being able to stay at her school but also, on a purely selfish note, I think she will be a long term tenant and that is ideal for me. The fact that part of her rent was going to be housing benefit doesn't matter to me.

The area I live in 25% of HB claimants are working. The cost of the majority of private rentals far exceeds what HB will cover., so the result is that these tenants have to 'top up' out of their already limited incomes. I also see that some rental properties have been on the market (and empty) for some time. An empty property brings in no income so why don't these owners consider letting to HB tenants or lower their rents so that the local NMW workforce can afford them? I don't know the answer to that question.

Needs must..do what you must do to get through.good luck xx

Sorry to hear you've been ill OP, don't let MN guilt you for not returning to work as soon as you've given birth, jeez. Nursery and working mum isn't better than stay-at-home non-working mum - we all make different choices and there are things to be said for and against both.

Thank you all for your support. I thought there would be more people telling me how wrong I was to have lied but you've (nearly) all been lovely. I'm feeling a bit better about it all now I've written an email. If she decides not to give me the house after all then so be it but at least I tried.

Ultimately it's your own needs you have to cover. I wouldn't want the stress of being evicted and it sounds like you've enough on your plate.

Honestly contact shelter they really know their stuff. You might even be able to stay where you are a bit longer.

I'm on housing benefit have been for donkeys years as even when working wasn't earning great since becoming a lone parent. It's tough. There's not enough social housing and mortgage lenders and insurance companies tie owners into not being able to take on hb recipients too.

good luck op, really hoping you get the house. This is exactly the sort of area where I wish the govt would intervene to stop mortgage lenders and insurance companies making these rules.

Update.

Applied for a job yesterday, had a telephone interview today and passed. Have the final stage of the interview this Friday. The company are asking for proof of address but obviously I'm sort of in the middle and things are a bit uncertain.

Do I give them my current address and tell them I'll (hopefully) be moving soon?

I'd just give them your current address and say nothing else until you move house and inform HR of the change of address in the normal way.

yes as long as they know to primarily contact you on email you can change of address later

Right that's sorted. Had a phone call from the agent and apparently the landlord is happy to go along with my application as long as my guarantor passes credit checks.

Phew.

That's excellent news! So pleased for you. Good luck with the new job and home.

Thank you

Frantically applying for jobs yesterday paid off!

You've done really well! It's tough getting a job at the moment.

Yes I've had 2 friends get knock backs on jobs this week - well done I'm happy to hear this