Housing association affordability test

[minimar123]

Hi all

does anyone know what documents if any are needed for a housing affordability check. I’ve been offered a house and need to get through this test next week before I can sign an agreement. I’m only receive benefits and don’t work at the moment.

thanks xx

I think it's bank statements to see you ingoing and outgoings OP. It's just to make sure you can afford it.

Thank you. Appreciated.

But if you only receive benefits surely you’ll have your rent paid so why do they need to do an affordability test for houses that are for those in greatest need ?

Hi there I had to do this with a HA years ago. I had to show them a years worth of bank statements so they could see my income (there was a minimum HH income of £12K for that scheme) as for some reason you could not claim HB and this particular Housing Co-op was aimed at working people.

Also to see how much rent you paid (£330 pcm) and whether you paid it on time.

At the time I found it odd because to me it was considerably affordable,(£240 pcm including community district heating and hot water). They seemed obsessed about my credit card use (usually paid in full).

I found it to be a bit intrusive tbh and the emphasis was very much about me being able to afford it (and not get into arrears) rather than from me finding the offer considerably cheaper than my previous rental (overpriced, damp, poor insulation

I saved £90 pcm and on heating (£15 pcm) so it really improved my standard of living and was much more affordable.

OP I suggest you contact the HA to find out more and put your mind at rest. They just want to know that you can afford it on the benefits you are on and that you don't have a large debt to service

Mine didn't want proof of figures (other than income - had to be working). But I did need to know roughly how much I spent/was planning on spending on everything. I wasn't renting (living with family), otherwise they would have also have taken a rental reference to check I was up to date on payments.

Took about 20 minutes on the phone to give them the figures and they entered them all into their spreadsheet.