Advice needed re. housing

**ann_north** · 01-03-2012 09:27 AM

Hi,

I just found this forum - I hope I am putting this message in the correct place.

My partner and I would like to move in together as I have been offered a new job which would mean having to relocate some distance away from where we both currently live. He is registered blind, and does not work, so at the moment his housing benefit covers his rent and he doesn't pay council tax, etc. He will be 36 in May (relevant due to the changes to housing benefit I think).

Can anyone point me towards a good source of advice for what the implications of us moving in together would be? Should we be looking at housing associations/local authority housing? If he applied, would I be able to live with him? I assume his disability would put him further up a list than I would be if I applied.

My wages will be less than £24,000/yr before tax, so his benefits would be quite a significant contribution to our finances. Would I be entitled to any sort of income support/tax credits if I was supposed to be supporting him? We're not married, if that makes any difference.

It's bad enough having to think about moving 100 miles away, but finding somewhere we can afford that means we can also afford to eat is making us both rather stressed!

Any advice would be very much appreciated, thank you.

**Duncan** · 01-03-2012 09:48 AM

Info here re the advice you seek. You can get details of your local advice centre.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Dire...acts/DG_195356

**Lighttouch** · 01-03-2012 10:42 AM

So to recap, you both want to relocate 100 miles away as you have a new job earning about £25k and your partner is disabled and on benefits. At present you don't live together.

Question. Are you living in privately rented, housing association or council housing? Or home owners. Where are you hoping to relocate too?

Implications of moving in together. Best thing to do is visit a Citizens Advice Bureau and they could work out the pros and cons of living together.

In my opinion if you are living together as partners your income will affect his benefits as they are means tested on your joint income and you'd be treated as a couple. If you didn't report that you were living as a couple you'd be breaking the law. But his Disability Living Allowance (mobility component) isn't means tested.

Affordable social housing waiting lists. No chance unless you're homeless and a 'bed blocker' in hospital.

If he lives in social housing the quickest method of moving is through 'ukhomeswap'. Check this out http://www.ukhomeswap.co.uk/?gclid=C...FcMMtAodp3YHmA

Directgov website http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Disabled...me/DG_10039672

If you are planning to move to this new area and don't want to commit for the first three or six months I'd advise a house share to save money. Check out Spareroom.com at least you'll get an idea of private rental costs. http://www.spareroom.co.uk/

When you are more certain about your job then you could consider shared ownership where you can buy or rent or a bit of both.
http://www.sharetobuy.com/sharedownershipproperty.php

The best of luck. Let us know how you get on.

**ann_north** · 01-03-2012 11:49 AM

Thanks for the replies.

We both rent privately at the moment in a pretty affordable part of the country (Stoke-on-Trent). We envisage continuing to rent privately to begin with, though would consider buying when we're more settled in the area we move to. We're lucky that our parents would be able to help with a deposit otherwise this really wouldn't be an option.

I think me moving down there first and sharing and him staying behind while we sort things out might have to happen depending on how long it all takes.

The job is in Sidcup, which is in SE London - just! Ideally we'd like to live in a London borough so he can get a freedom pass, but if it's lots cheaper to live outside London we'd do that instead.

We just don't know where to start really without knowing how much money we'll have. Do the benefits calculators on DirectGov, etc, work reliably enough for us to base an estimate on what they come out with?

**Lighttouch** · 01-03-2012 12:05 PM

Best thing to do is visit a Citizens Advice Bureau and they could work out what benefits you could keep or loose.

Happy New Year - sounds like a new start!

**ann_north** · 01-03-2012 12:50 PM

Thanks! We're excited, but a little scared too!

Our local CAB is just round the corner from where I live so we'll definitely pop in there.

**Stepheninleeds** · 01-03-2012 04:00 PM

And remember the new cap on Housing Benefits, & London is not a cheap place to live. It is best to look into this fully so you both know where you stand. Than you can make the right choices.

Did anyone see on the news yesterday that some Housing Benefits of upto £2,000 a week, yes, a week, is currently being paid to some landlords?

**ann_north** · 01-03-2012 04:19 PM

Don't worry, we're going to do our homework thoroughly! Luckily we've got a bit of time as my new employers are chasing references at the moment so I haven't handed my notice in yet and we'll have a month from then to get sorted.

We're looking at other things too like selling my car and going without a Virgin subscription so we're willing to make sacrifices and live cheaply. We just want to make sure we get what we're entitled to and are following the rules!