Is the only way to give up my sitting room?

[Watdidusay]

Sister is abroad and has long covid. Moved over to an EU country for work 4 years ago and has been ill for nearly 2 years. Unable to work and ineligible for benefits in that country. Lost job and decided she has to come home for support.

Unfortunately there isn't a place for her to stay long term aside from my open plan sitting room diner on the sofa.

She will probably need to go on benefits for a while and will need to pass habitual residence etc. The problem is it looks like she will either need to be "street homeless" and be put up in a hostel or sleep on my sofa and basically take over my small home which is already crowded. We were hoping that my mum (who's in supported living) acting as a solid guarantor would help her get a private rental but I'm reading that won't be enough. I've even been told she won't be able to get a room in a house share.

AIBU to feel like this is horrendous? We've all always worked until my sister got unwell.

Problem is change to tenants law coming in in may. All different from then

Not handed notice in but we're in serious talks about next steps right now. She's in an EU country

Op you keep repeating that she can't get a tenancy/houseshare without ' proof of income' because she doesn't have an existing tenancy paid by UC.
I'm not sure how you're missing this, but lots of people can and do rent property on benefits, without having an existing tenancy paid for by UC. A common example would be someone leaving a relationship and needing to rent solo, so they had enough income as a couple but not when leaving. Or someone who has a child while still living with mum and dad and needs to move out.
Proof of income, for someone on benefits, is proof of their benefits. By being in receipt of benefits the LL knows that the tenant will be eligible for the housing element. As long as you find a LL who will accept someone on UC that's it. Most are understanding that UC pay in arrears, but if there's any scope for family to help her get the first month's rent and deposit together, that would help a lot. Some LLs for budget properties actually prefer tenants on UC because they know if there's problems with being paid that they can request UC pay the LL directly. Compared to renting someone on a low income who might not pay and they have no recourse other than to go through a lengthy eviction process.

I've also just had a good read of the changes and advice about LL insurance, as you keep mentioning that as a reason.

• LLs aren't legally required to have landlords insurance, though the mortgage lender may make it a condition of the mortgage
• with the new rules coming in, there's greater financial risk to LLs, so the general advice is for them to be insured, including rent protection
• one of the changes from May is that if mortgage lenders require landlords to have insurance, they're specifically banned from putting in clauses about not renting to people on UC, or people with pets - because to do so would be unlawful. If they do put it in the paperwork it'd be unenforceable

All of this means that the changes should make it easier for your sister to rent once she has benefits in place, not harder

https://england.shelter.org.uk/professional_resources/news_and_updates/ten_key_changes_to_renters_rights

www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-rented-housing--2/universal-credit-and-rented-housing-guide-for-landlords#tenancy-and-rent-evidence

If she moves in, she'll never move out. Beware.

Its not going to be housing benefit in any case. She would have to make a claim for UC with housing costs included. HB is only paid in certain circumstances, and if someone is working age, only if they are in specified accommodation. Possibly if she goes into temp accommodation it will be HB, otherwise, UC, and as you are already aware I think the habitual residence test will be an issue. Really needs to see a housing/benefits adviser.

Surely she needs to get cracking.. You said up thread she only has two months of money left? What is she waiting for!
Surely if she speaks to her current LL, she could offer the equivalent of notice in rent and leave immediately? She doesn't need to actually reside there for the notice period, surely. As long as it's all done above board, they inspect on closing the tenancy and agree all fine etc and she hands keys back.

She could literally be home by the end of the week?

OK. I was trying to understand why this situation seems insurmountable.

It isn’t.

Its that just you as a family want her to be able to jump the emergency accommodation step?

That’s understandable from a personal preference perspective but you are unable to finance that choice.

I have worked with homelessness for a county and you would be surprised how comfortable many e-rooms are. Most are premier inn type hotels. The ones designed for women and children are much better. I agree the all male ones can be grim but IME it’s the clients (unresolved addiction / unsupported MH issues) rather than the accommodation and even then the rooms are good standard.

I would move down this pathway. You can look at how many nights she needs to stay consecutively in the e accommodation so might be able to break up her week if it was difficult for her - but IME in the female and children facilities it’s not.

Can she not just apply for jobs when she gets here, one with the option of a remote interview from home/WFH option, start the job, then get a tenancy, then go off on sick leave or resign? Use the initial proof of income to get the tenancy then you can pay her rent afterwards until housing support comes through?

Agree the situation. Is not insurmountable. But op’s preferences as a family are what make this sound like it is.

yes, not ideal.

I tend to not tell employers the things that make them not hire me.