lodger claiming housing benefit

[sparkle1981]

was hoping someone might be able to help with a question i have. I have a lodger living with me who has just lost her job. She is going to claim income support/ housing benefits. will/ could this affect me in anyway?

It'll be counted as income for you, won't it?

Call the CAB for advice?

Hec - surely it's alreayd counted as income for her though??

It won't necessarily affect you. You need to give more info. What benefits,if any, do you receive.

Approx how much is rent and what does it include?

Thanks for replying so quickly. Yeah it is extra income for me. She has been here for a few months and has paid £400 a month but just lost her job. It is for the room and includes the bills. I don't claim any benefits so not really sure how it all works.

doh! of course it is. Sorry. El thicko over here.

She just needs to put the claim in, she will get whatever your local housing allowance is for a single person (google it) unless that is more than £15 a week more than what you charge her. she will then pay you, same as always. You will probably find that LHA is less than rent, she has to top it up from other benefits.

As long as it's within the tax office rent a room limits then you aren't going to be affected at all.

She will have a standard deduction from weekly rent made for heating and lighting etc and be expected to pay that from her income support.

How old is she? Check out local housing allowance website.

thanks :-) I'll google it. She is mid 20's. What is the tax office rent a room limits?

The Rent a room scheme.

The maximum you can charge before you pay tax.

If she is under 25 she us only eligiable for single room rate LHA

thanks for the link and info. will i be affected if the rent goes over the limits then? She only moved in a couple of months ago so i guess it will be less than the limit this year but if she stays a long time it could go past it next year.

You will need to complete a tax return if over to declare your income over and above the annual allowance. Best to keep it within the 2011 rate.