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Original poster

Universal credit and renting

10 replies

Flowerpowerr1 · 25/02/2022 19:38

Hey all just need some advice.
Me and partner have been renting privately for a few months now, he’s self employed and I’m
not currently working as we can’t afford full time child care.
So when we were applying for the place we were told my partner would need a guarantor as his earnings were little, thankfully his dad became our guarantor and we got accepted for the place.
But recently my partners business has been struggling more than ever and we’re struggling to pay our rent.
He tried an online calculator which said he can get help by universal credit. I’ve never used it before so I’m not sure how it exactly works?
My question is how will our landlord feel if he finds out we’re having to get help on our rent? Even though it will be paid on time I know most landlords don’t like it and I’m afraid we get evicted.
Will the landlord find out if we were having to get universal credit?

OP posts:
BMWqueen · 25/02/2022 19:44

You will definitely be entitled to UC but claim now as it takes 5 weeks for 1st payment
also your land lord won’t know as the rent is paid to you and you have to pay landlord with it
:) x

AnotherEmma · 25/02/2022 19:50

Usually when you first start renting you have a fixed term tenancy for a year (one year fixed term is standard but it can be different eg 6 months or 2 years) and your landlord can't evict you during the fixed term other than in very limited circumstances (serious breaches of the tenancy agreement).

Your landlord will not be notified that you have claimed Universal Credit. So it would be up to you to notify them. Check your tenancy agreement to see if it says anything about benefits.

If you do claim Universal Credit there are rules about claiming when self-employed. Also how old is your child? If they are 3 or older you will be expected to look for work. You can get up to 85% of your childcare costs covered by UC.

It won't be open until Monday now but you could contact Citizens Advice Help to Claim service if you have more questions:
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/claiming/helptoclaim/

Trinxsy · 25/02/2022 19:52

When we moved in, DP was working enough that we didn't get rent help. We do now as hours have been cut, our landlord has no idea as rent is paid to us through our monthly entitlement and then we pay the landlord. You don't have to tell them, as long as they're getting paid I don't they will mind

Darbs76 · 26/02/2022 08:48

I used to claim housing benefit a few years ago and this was paid directly to me. I was working and so as far as they were concerned I was paying my rent on time and they had no idea about the HB. Pretty sure it’s paid direct to claimants the majority of the time, including UC

Lucky889 · 06/03/2022 19:22

Hello ladies, I came across this thread and wanted to ask if UC asked for landlord contact details? I am applying and the housing costs section is asking for Landlord name and contact details? I work full time but found out I can get a bit of a hell as a single parent. Does anyone know if its just part of the application process or if the landlord will be contacted? There was no section to upload tenancy agreement.

Lucky889 · 06/03/2022 19:23

@Lucky889

Hello ladies, I came across this thread and wanted to ask if UC asked for landlord contact details? I am applying and the housing costs section is asking for Landlord name and contact details? I work full time but found out I can get a bit of a hell as a single parent. Does anyone know if its just part of the application process or if the landlord will be contacted? There was no section to upload tenancy agreement.
Help as a single parent**
Babyroobs · 06/03/2022 20:04

@Lucky889

Hello ladies, I came across this thread and wanted to ask if UC asked for landlord contact details? I am applying and the housing costs section is asking for Landlord name and contact details? I work full time but found out I can get a bit of a hell as a single parent. Does anyone know if its just part of the application process or if the landlord will be contacted? There was no section to upload tenancy agreement.
Yes the application asks for landlord details. When your claim is verified it will send you a link to upload your tenancy agreement, or you may be asked to go to the job centre to take documents. I'm not sure whether things have resumed to normal since the end of lockdown.
Babyroobs · 06/03/2022 20:06

They have to see the tenancy agreement to know how much rent you are paying and work out what help you will get. If private renting then the amount of rent element will depend on the local housing allowance for your area. If council or housing association then they don't always need to see the tenancy agreement.

Lucky889 · 06/03/2022 21:12

Thank so much ladies

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