rent a room scheme - does it apply to boyfriends!

[seasidesev]

Hi there

my boyfriend has recently been made redundant and is considering trying to claim housing benefit. We live together but I own the flat and all bills are in my name. He pays me ₤300 a month in rent which seems to be under the threashold for Rent a Room scheme but I am not clear whether the scheme actually applies to boyfriends! I am on PAYE and therefore not compiling a tax return which seems to be ok according to the rules.

could anyone help advise?

with thanks

[Telometer]

I have no idea whether your boyfriend is entitled to housing benefit when living with you.

However, I can confirm that your rental receipts will not be subject to tax, courtesy of the rent a room scheme.

[seasidesev]

many thanks - I was worried by putting something more formal together for housing benefit which stated what my boyfriend paid me in rent I would get clobbered with tax! That's really reassuring :-)

[Trishc]

your boyfriend cant claim HB for paying his partner rent.

[islandgirl]

and rightly so....

[gullarm]

My ex-neighbour did for several years. He was attending college as a mature student and didnt get any help to pay his fees so he signed on and claimed HB.

They came round and checked, he just made sure everything was seperate to show they were not a couple. Which they didn't really check.

It worked fine until she got pregnant! :confused:

He was playing the system but actually in a good way. He now has a very well paid job and has paid back his dues ten times over.

[mind the gap]

He was playing the system but actually in a good way. He now has a very well paid job and has paid back his dues ten times over.

That is surely beside the point. HB is supposed to be there as a safety net in order to keep a roof over the head of people in great need who would otherwise be homeless. If this person had a girlfriend willing to house him, then why should taxpayers' money be handed over to line her pockets when she (presumably) is benefitting from the domestic arrangements in the same way that any other conjugal partner does when living with someone? I live with my husband, but when he was on a year's unpaid sabbatical, we didn't expect the taxpayer to pay him rent money when he could live with me for free. Why should they?

[seasidesev]

Actually I agree with that, I'm not expecting to receive any HB but the job seekers process takes you through several steps and that's one of them...I am happy to look after boyfriend till he is on his feet again I just didnt want to get clobbered with tax if he declared that in normal curcumstances he paid me "rent"! Benefits should be there for people in greatest need.

[TaxationPete]

He does not pay you rent. He just pays his share of the running and food costs. Regards Peter