Report or forget about it?

[BiscoffSundae]

I share children with my ex, for his own reasons he has decided to not be involved with them, so no contact. Also he doesn’t pay any maintenance at all. I opened a cms case when we first split but I was told he wasn’t working or claiming any benefits so didn’t have to pay anything.

This is because he doesn’t work, he lives in a 3 bed HA flat and rents out all the rooms to lodgers (I know for a fact he is doing this) he is not subletting as he lives there and is allowed to have lodgers I’ve been told. However he is obviously not declaring the income from them. I have wanted to report this for years now but I have been reluctant as he will know it was me (There was abuse in our relationship) which is why I’ve put it off. However recently I put in the cm calculator what he told me he gets from renting out the rooms and I was surprised to see how much he should be paying as I didn’t realise it would be so much. This has prompted me to want to report it now but as it’s probably all cash in hand I probably won’t get anywhere. Speaking to a family member about it they told me to just forget about it and said it just seems bitter. So wibu to report him to hmrc? Would it be worth it?

I'm quite surprised at him being allowed to sublet all rooms. We need a housing expert to chime in but this really does not sound right not needing permission to sublet all the rooms. If the ha doesn't know who lives there & there are tenancy breaches then how can they evict ghost tenants? He's probably not earning as much as you think OP, he'll have to pay ha rent as not on benefits, which is probably around 8.5-9k per annum at least in c London. Deduct this from his 24k rent leaves 15k less full council tax of 1-3 k depending on his LA so he's left with about 12-14 k. Less or a bit more than the personal allowance of 12.500 k (I know it's around this figure give or take) so none or hardly any tax due. Then there's fuel bills, water rates (meter?).

What he has to pay out isn’t taken into consideration for CM though? We all have bills to pay. I think he said his rent is £700 but I am not certain of that. So basically I should just let him get away with no paying a penny for the children? We all have bills he is choosing not to work so he doesn’t have to pay any CM he told me himself he gets enough to not have to work so why bother

Not*

If he didn’t have the lodgers then maybe he would be forced to get a job, this is enabling him to not have to work which is wrong surely?

Get him reported, show the evidence you have from spare room. Point is that this is his income, so he should be paying to support his children. Maybe nothing will.come of it but at least you've tried to pursue support for your children.

Thank you can’t believe all the sympathy for him in these comments 🤦🏻 He doesn’t see our children or pay a penny! Meanwhile he doesn’t have to work because his lodgers enable him not to.

Definitely do so anonymously though and don't mention this to the children.

However recently I put in the cm calculator what he told me he gets from renting out the rooms
He's not very bright, your ex, is he?

and I was surprised to see how much he should be paying as I didn’t realise it would be so much. This has prompted me to want to report it now but as it’s probably all cash in hand I probably won’t get anywhere.
Cash in hand is easy to prove - he has subtenants living in his home!

Speaking to a family member about it they told me to just forget about it and said it just seems bitter.
Family member is a tool to have said that to you.
Firstly - who wouldn;t be bitter about it, secondly, it;s not "bitter" to want your child to have decent provision made for them by both parents.

So wibu to report him to hmrc? Would it be worth it?
Don't know enough about the legal specifics, but it's worth doing something.
Think I'd start with the HA first though. No need for subterfuge - just ring up, explain your DC's father is refusing to pay for his DC & is hiding money from the CMS, & you need evidence that he is subletting.
That will at least alert them - & you - as to whether he has declared the subletting to the HA formally.
If he has - bingo, there's your proof.
If he has not - bingo, the HA are going to be investigating, & you will have your proof.

The main problem I can see is that the HA may not wish to discuss details of a tenant with you. That's why I'd make it a phone call in the first instance - you'll be able to convey the unfairness to your child, & may get a sympathetic ear & a few hints on how to tackle it.

Be wary of an HMRC or DWP report though. When they cut off his benefit, he really will have no money to send his child. Unless you are more concerned with revenge/just desserts than cash. For which I cannot blame you!

Good luck.

HMRC will not get any of the subletting money to your children.

CMS might.
Why don't you get clarity from the HA, & then ring CMS with the news that ex DOES have an income, but he is concelaing it from them?

I will call them again and see what they say, I actually ended up closing it out of frustration as he’s never had to pay a penny and I didn’t see the point in keeping the case open as he is never going to get a job.

Report him to everyone you can think of including his HA. I would be surprised if this is allowed. It will also be classed as an HMO so I would report an illegal HMO to the council.

I would report as he's a) stopped someone more deserving getting a HA house and b) people like him are defrauding the system that means our schools and NHS are so underfunded which also has a negative effect on your kids and everyone else's. I'm sure someone will be along to say Amazon et al negate all the individual people doing stuff like this or "blah blah government blah derail" but steady drops hollow the stone too.

Getting CMS would also be good as he is refusing to provide adequately for his kids.

@BiscoffSundae Well I'm sorry you are having to deal with an abusive dead-beat dad ex. I'm not familiar with the child maintenance stuff nowadays as my ex also wriggled out due to 'low' (bullshit) self employed earnings years ago. Morally of course he should be paying something towards his children but he could be crafty & not declaring his rental income ie tax evasion. Afaik landlords, estate agents etc have a duty to report income to HMRC so surprised HA hasn't said something. If he has registered for self assessment I presume child maintenance would be worked out on his net earnings not gross income so if he's on assuming 24k in rent that leaves around half to pay tax and national insurance on after personal allowance deducted so maybe he nets around 20k if he's legit. A big IF! As others have said, start with the HA & find out more. He's providing a home but keeping a family from getting social housing & profiting from subsidized housing. Maybe he knows someone dodgy at the HA & the 'legal' subletting is b/s? Also keep dogged with the CMS. Good luck.