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Relationships

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Original poster

Housing for my ex partner after a break up

14 replies

Ilovefashion1986 · 26/05/2015 19:27

Me & my ex partner split up a few months ago and the house were in is all in my name (rented) and I pay for everything. He's unemployed and recieves ESA. He looks after our daughter whose 14 months while I work 4 days a week. He doesn't have any friends/family he can move in with so what are his options as we'd like to get the ball rolling. I don't want to move as all my family are walkable and all the furniture is mine. X

OP posts:

FlabulousChix · 26/05/2015 19:33

If he is having your child overnight he will need a two bed place that's a months deposit and a Minh in advance and someone who takes housing benefit. Gumtree perhaps and the local paper. If he won't have your child there at all he could get a bedsit. However if he loses he esa how can he look after your child as he would need to be available to work.

pocketsaviour · 26/05/2015 19:39

Depending on the area you live in and the availability of social housing, you may need to serve him an "eviction notice" to leave the house, which he would then need to show the housing dept as proof of homelessness.

If you stated he was the primary care giver he would get priority and be better placed to get a 2-bed place. In that case though you would need to pay maintenance, based on how many nights your DD would be with you versus with him.

Original poster

Ilovefashion1986 · 26/05/2015 19:45

Yeah we're going 50/50 with our daughter. We agreed I would drop her off on a Monday morning and pick her up on Thursday tea time then she'll stay with me till Monday. It's amicable as far as our daughter is concerned. I'd still be going round to his to put her to bed at night and vice versa. Do most private rented accommodation tend not to accept people on benefits? If he was to ring the council and say he's homeless would they try and keep him local as he doesn't have a car at the moment and his family are all walkable from where we live too. Thanks for your reply x

OP posts:

26Point2Miles · 26/05/2015 19:49

The council won't care about where his child lives, they are obliged to provide him with a roof. That's it. Could be any place. Hostel or B and B usually for single men.

He'd be better off securing his own accomadation

pocketsaviour · 26/05/2015 20:04

Private landlords as a rule won't accept HB. Often it's because they've got a buy to let mortgage which forbids HB tenants as part of the agreement. You will find the odd one who does but it's a real needle in a haystack job.

That's why I'm saying you might need to state he's primary care giver - effectively you'd be evicting him and your child. If you evict just him, the council will stick him in temporary, if they've got any, and he'll only get a 1-bed, most likely.

FlabulousChix · 26/05/2015 20:05

You do have to consider long term when he isn't on benefits or eligible for esa as he will need to work. Assuming it's 50/50 I take it you are going to pay him maintenance. And there aren't many who accept housing benefit.

26Point2Miles · 26/05/2015 20:07

Flat/house share might be an option? Other single men in similiar situation?

Original poster

Ilovefashion1986 · 26/05/2015 20:12

If it's 50/50 I assumed we wouldn't be paying each other anything am I wrong? He does plan on going back to work (he was a window fitter) but he's had to have a heart operation & an injection in his back from having bulging discs so I doubt he'll be going back dong that. And when he does I'll be going to 3 days a week at work and my family will help out and she'll get to go to nursery too.
If I move out and he stays in the house will the council help him cover the cost of the rent etc? X

OP posts:

26Point2Miles · 26/05/2015 20:21

He would get partial housing benefit

How many bedrooms are there?

Offred · 26/05/2015 20:26

Of course you absolutely be pushing the council to house him but unless he counts as disabled or you are fortunate enough to live in a wealthy council area, as a single male they may very well only have a duty to signpost him to the private rental market.

I think it is unrealistic to be looking at 50/50 shared care as well as if he is using housing benefit to pay the rent he will very likely not be able to afford more than a 1 bedroom place or a HMO or a room in a shared place (depending on his age and therefore his bedroom entitlement) as there are financial penalties for council renting and the LHA rate is deliberately set low so most places which are of the size they are entitled to are unaffordable nevermind ones with an extra bedroom.

I think you could do with heading down to your local CAB for a benefits calculation and some advice about how to separate.

Original poster

Ilovefashion1986 · 26/05/2015 20:41

We live in a 2 bed bungalow at the moment. I don't want to leave but in this situation do you think it's best if I find somewhere else while I'm employed and can get references etc? I'm worried he'll not be able to cope financially and he loses this place too and that's the last thing we want x

OP posts:

FlabulousChix · 26/05/2015 20:43

If the place is in your ne you can't just move out. Re maintenance whilst he is in vendors of course I'd he ha 50/50 care you will have to pay. When you both work depends who earns more really and who is getting the tax credits and child benefit. All has to be thought about

FlabulousChix · 26/05/2015 20:44

Jesus I'm so sorry I've read that back and can't even understand it myself.

Offred · 26/05/2015 20:46

I think if you currently pay the rent and it is a two bed place he will likely struggle to maintain the current place too and may end up losing that. I would have thought it would be best for him to try and find somewhere which is within his budget but also to try and maximise his income. I do think you need advice from CAB. If he is in the support group for ESA he may be able to also claim PIP and if he is in the WRAG group he may be able to get bumped up into the support group and claim PIP with CAB's help. Also if if you are OK financially it may be more prudent for him to be the main carer for your child as that way he will be able to afford to have a place big enough. I think you could do with a few options and CAB could give advice on that.

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