Break up...

[ellash]

Hey guys,

Needing a bit of advice please.

I am a mum of an 11 month old, my partner has just left me and now I'm really worried...

We are both on a tenancy agreement (private letting through estate agents) and I am going to have to be claiming housing benefit. With what I am entitled to, I can afford to continue living here with little one but am very worried my landlord can just tell us to leave due to me now being on benefits.

Do I need to take my ex off the tenancy agreement? Will I need this as proof in order to receive housing benefit and if I do have to... how likely do you think it is that I will have to leave and be rehomed?

Of all things going through my head, this is the most stressful thing as I just need my baby in a stable home and don't want to move from here.

Hi OP. Sorry you're having to worry about all this stuff. Firstly I'm not 100% sure if you HAVE to take your ex off the tenancy but, I would imagine he will want his name taken off.
You don't have to tell the landlord you're getting benefits. HB goes directly to you and not the landlord so no reason for him to even know this.
If your ex wants off the tenancy, just contact the landlord (or EA) and explain you have separated and ask if he can be removed.
As long as you can pay the rent, I doubt the landlord will care! If you have been good tenants up to this point then they should be reasonable about it.

And just to add, landlords hate the cost and hassle of finding new tenants so they will want to keep you I'm sure.

In reference to having to tell your landlord you are claiming housing benefit. Some posters have said that your landlord wouldn't have to know as the benefit is paid into your account. I don't know what your renting situation is but I thought would let you know what mine is in case it is similar. We rent directly from our landlords (no agency) but they use a solicitors firm for our tenancy agreement and only give us a photocopy of it. We have to give the photocopy to the housing benefit people but we also have to give a letter from our landlord to say that this photocopy is a copy of the original document. So our landlord knows that we claim housing benefit. If we were renting through an estate agent presumably it would be the estate agent providing the letter so the landlord wouldn't know. Also the council will want to see a copy of your tenancy agreement. They will want bank and savings accounts statements from those named on the tenancy. They will also contact HMRC to find out the income of the people on the tenancy agreement. So you will definitely need to get him removed from the tenancy otherwise it will affect the amount you can claim.

when me and ex seperated they wanted evidence that i was solely responsible for tenancy otherwise they would only pay half.