universal credit & landlord

[cf86]

Hi, does anyone know if I am obliged to tell my landlord how much universal credit I receive? She knows I am claiming it (just started as partner has moved out and need help with rent costs) but I wondered whether I am under any obligation to tell her how much they are giving me?

She thinks I can't afford the rent by myself, and wants to know that UC are helping but I'm not getting anywhere near what all the benefit calculators said (i know these are only estimates) so I'm worried that if I tell her, she will want to throw me out?

Hi OP. I don't think she has any right to know about your private finances as long as the rent is being paid in full as agreed.

As long as you're paying, even if you're missing out on other stuff do do it it's none of the LL's business. My advice to clients is that you don't need to tell the LL you're on UC and DWP are very clear that, while they need proof of your tenancy and therefore your LL they never contact LLs without consent.

There's a process by which, if a tenant is badly in arrears a LL can contact UC for Alternative (ie direct) payment but that's not where you are.

If you need any help reconciling why you're getting (a lot) less than the online calculators suggest post a bit more detail here or PM me and I'll see if I can get to the bottom of it.

Yes that's what I thought - as long as the rent is being paid in full on time, she shouldn't need to know the ins and outs of my finances.

I think the UC payment because I was paid slightly more this month as I reduced my pension contribution (trying to save money any which way possible) not realising this would affect the UC payment. And actually, I got an extra c£100 in my salary, but over c£200 less UC so perhaps that wasn't the wisest of moves!

@Bromptotoo it would be really useful to understand what would happen if I dropped my hours, and how that would affect UC. Can you advise on anywhere I can do this calculation and look at some different options?

The answer to your question regarding the landlord knowing your benefit entitlement isn't straightforward. It depends on what is happening to your tenancy.

If you were originally on a joint tenancy with your partner but have now split up and want the tenancy transferring to your name alone then your landlord will need evidence that you have the income to support the tenancy in your sole name and on your income alone.

If the tenancy has always been in your sole name then the landlord must already be satisfied you can afford the rent alone and therefore won't be entitled to information about your income.

@cf86 how low do you want to go with your hours and what, approx, would you earn on the reduced hours? Do you have children, other caring responsibilities or a health condition that affects your work?

I’m going to ask HR for a couple scenarios in terms of what my take-home pay would be doing different hours. Currently I do 36.25 (random I know!) my boss suggested looking at 30 hours, but I’m also going to see what perhaps a bit less is too just I can see the options.
I have two children, no health conditions or anything else affecting work :-)

Even if you were only on the Nat Living Wage I don't think 30 hours would present any practical issue so far as Work Activity requirements are concerned. For every £1 of net income you lose I think you'd get about 55p added to UC.

How old are the kids and what are their sexes? - may be relevant if you're not getting full rent due to LHA limits.

Do either of them have any disability or long term health issue, particularly if the get DLA (or PIP if over 16)?

They are 13 and 7, both boys.

I don’t really understand how the LHA limits work but I know it affects my UC payment

Both boys so they'd normally be expected to share a room until they're 16. One room for you and one for them; you'll get 2 bed LHA.

ahh ok, we have 3 bedrooms so that makes sense. There's so many things that aren't very clear with all stuff. I'm new to claiming anything so I'm a bit clueless!

Not true about expecting to share a bedroom .

If it was a joint tenancy and one partner had left. The landlord has 2 options...

1. Affordability check on remaining tenant to ensure they alone can pass and pay the rent.
2. Give a section 21 eviction notice.

It is likely if affordability not passed a section 21 would be given anyway.

As previously stated, 2 children share upto 16yrs if same sex. Therefore, entitlement will be at 2 bed LHA rates

Yes it is - up to 16 and same sex

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/calculating-your-bedroom-entitlement

And previous posters are right that your current AST may need reviewing if it was a joint tenancy. She is entitled to run an affordability check on your new status as a single tenant and part of that check would be your income including benefits.

In what way, for LHA (or 'bedroom tax') purposes, is it not true?

Hi everyone - I’m thinking about taking on a lodger to help with bills. What is the concensus on taking on someone on universal credit? Is it a risk?

Just tell her UC is only connected to childcare of your 7yo and not connected to rent so not to worry.