Contract for renting a room?

[MamiLove]

Hi, XP and I recently split, and we both left the flat we'd been living in. He rented a room close to his work, and I came back to my mum's for a couple of months. Now I'm going to rent a room for DD and I at another single parent's home, and I would like to know if it is necessary/recommended to have a contract, especially since I will be claiming housing benefit. Have any idea?

I think you'll have to have some sort of contract, if only because HB will want to see evidence of the rent you pay (and what it includes). Don't know if it still applies (it's many years since I received benefits) but it used to be that if you shared with another person and had a kitty for meals, split bills etc you could be treated as "living together as husband and wife" even if you weren't any sort of a couple; and that could seriously fuck up your finances. I'd check with the CAB before doing anything else.

Thanks OldLady! But sorry, what's the CAB?

Citizens Advice bureau.

Yes get a contract and try and detail everything that could possibly cause friction!

Thanks again! :-)