advice plz

[mamagaga]

What do you do if your entiled to housing benefit (student, parent) but have to pay 6 months rent in advance for a new rented property. This is legal and landlords are within their rights to do this. where does that leave me with the Housing benefit if someone loans me the 6 months rent upfront, is it still possible to claim housing benefit for that period?

Is the 6 months in advance rent payments for the first 6 months, or a security deposit that will be returned to you should you leave the property?

I would have thought it was a deposit but 6 months seems very steep. Usually a tenancy agreement is a minimum of 6 months with one month up front held as deposit and returned when you leave?

I would seriously ask the question of why it's so steep, unless it is for three months upfront and three months deposit.

I wouldn't hand over 6 months to be held as a deposit...but perhaps things have changed since I rented??

6 months is an awfully lot of cash to hand over .

Generally they ask for 6 months in advance if the tenant is not working or os self employed / free lancing. Its a guarantee in case they cannot pay rent. They may ask for another 6 months rent just before first 6 month period is up.

Personally, I would look for somewhere else, but if it is standard practice in the area, then the OP may not have a choice.

Wow, that's seriously harsh. I suppose now that HB gets paid direct to the tenant and not the landlotd it kind of makes sense but how is anyone on HB supposed to get 6 months rent together ?

There are many things in this world that I don't understand!

Hope the OP gets it sorted.