Is it illegal..... a council tenancy question?

Vidar

Vidar

Vidar

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I'm trying to advise a friend, but am not 100% sure what the script is on all this tenancy stuff...

Basically my friend has allowed his cousin to move into his house, a housing trust property, without notifying them of it.... he's not sure how long his cousin will be staying with him as he's just moved back from abroad and is trying to find work, and his own place but is already claiming benefits...

If memory serves me, my mate can get into a lot of trouble should the trust find out, especially if he is taking money from him for staying there, but is it illegal and does the trust have the powers to say remove him from the property/ terminate the tenancy as I fear might happen?
 
It likely varies between specific councils/housing trusts - random people on the internet won't know the answer as you've not even provided that information. Perhaps if you did you might get lucky and someone feeling bored could attempt to google it for you.

Really your friend should just read his tenancy agreement and see if he is allowed to do this.... then again if he was sensible/organised like that he'd likely not be living in a council house in the first place.
 
dowie said:
It likely varies between specific councils/housing trusts - random people on the internet won't know the answer as you've not even provided that information. Perhaps if you did you might get lucky and someone feeling bored could attempt to google it for you.
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This bit I agree with, it will all be down in the tenancy agreement. Might even work in his favor with the bedroom tax! (I am aware its not actually a tax blahblahblah but it is how it is commonly known)


dowie said:
Really your friend should just read his tenancy agreement and see if he is allowed to do this.... then again if he was sensible/organised like that he'd likely not be living in a council house in the first place.
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This bit is hilarious. Points out we don't have enough information then in the very next paragraph makes a sweeping generalisation based on said lack of information :rolleyes:
 
dowie said:
Really your friend should just read his tenancy agreement and see if he is allowed to do this.... then again if he was sensible/organised like that he'd likely not be living in a council house in the first place.
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Because everyone should be renting privately or have a mortgage? I don't think I've read a more ignorant post in all my time on OCUK. Not everyone can afford to save the deposit for a mortgage, not everyone can afford to rent privately either. I know that, as a private renter, I would absolutely jump at the chance to rent from the council. I'm trying desperately not to call you a bad word.
 
MissChief said:
Because everyone should be renting privately or have a mortgage? I don't think I've read a more ignorant post in all my time on OCUK. Not everyone can afford to save the deposit for a mortgage, not everyone can afford to rent privately either. I know that, as a private renter, I would absolutely jump at the chance to rent from the council. I'm trying desperately not to call you a bad word.
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I'll do it...... "Tory" :D (ban for swearing incoming in 5.....4.....3....2....)


It does come across as awfully ignorant mind....
 
Woden said:
This bit is hilarious. Points out we don't have enough information then in the very next paragraph makes a sweeping generalisation based on said lack of information :rolleyes:
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My point was general (and semi-trolling) it doesn't require specific information about the OP's 'friend' but rather a general opinion of people who require the state or housing trusts to provide accommodation for them in comparison to people who can provide for themselves. The latter more likely to have their **** together than the former. :)
 
MissChief said:
Because everyone should be renting privately or have a mortgage? I don't think I've read a more ignorant post in all my time on OCUK. Not everyone can afford to save the deposit for a mortgage, not everyone can afford to rent privately either. I know that, as a private renter, I would absolutely jump at the chance to rent from the council. I'm trying desperately not to call you a bad word.
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I was actually looking at this today. ATM I am 30, single and living with my parents (I know, I know, Klingon uniform in in the post) earning £16k. To get a private rental place I would have to be on almost twice that realistically. Mortgage? Not a chance with or without a deposit.

The housing market is broken and wont be fixed by the Tories because most of their voters would be put into negative equity. And landlords are capitalising on that. I saw one place in a grotty area (but walking distance to work) £475 a month for an unfurnished 1bed apartment.
 
Yep housing is massively broken, we need to build more cheap homes, more social housing and bring in rent control

Also OP needs to understand the work "illegal" breaching a tenancy agreement is very different from something illegal :rolleyes: my guess is he can have someone to stay for up to a month no problems
 
Woden said:
I was actually looking at this today. ATM I am 30, single and living with my parents (I know, I know, Klingon uniform in in the post) earning £16k. To get a private rental place I would have to be on almost twice that realistically. Mortgage? Not a chance with or without a deposit.

The housing market is broken and wont be fixed by the Tories because most of their voters would be put into negative equity. And landlords are capitalising on that. I saw one place in a grotty area (but walking distance to work) £475 a month for an unfurnished 1bed apartment.
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House share? Plenty of people just rent a room and share kitchen/bathroom. Not that expensive.
 
I would be surprised if your mate doesnt have to inform them. When me and my Fiancee moved in together a year ago the house was in my name even though it was a joint application. I had to write a letter basically asking for permission to allow my fiancee to stay with me. Ridiculous really.
 
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As said above, info on lodgers will be contained in his tenancy agreement. Generally it will depend on the type of tenancy he holds. If it's non shorthold assured, he'll be ok. If he's on any type of starter or rent for less tenancy it probably won't be allowed.

As for getting in trouble, that depends how draconian his association are. If they want to be nasty, they could take out an injunction for breach of tenancy and possibly evict him. The association I work for, you'd have to murder a busload of nuns to get an injunction against you.

If he doesn't end up telling them (and you're probably better off doing so) and someone drops them in it, he can just tell them, he's not a lodger, he's a partner and they most likely won't say a word. They might check with the council though, if he's getting housing benefit, so it's swings and roundabouts.
 
Woden said:
I was actually looking at this today. ATM I am 30, single and living with my parents (I know, I know, Klingon uniform in in the post) earning £16k. To get a private rental place I would have to be on almost twice that realistically. Mortgage? Not a chance with or without a deposit.

The housing market is broken and wont be fixed by the Tories because most of their voters would be put into negative equity. And landlords are capitalising on that. I saw one place in a grotty area (but walking distance to work) £475 a month for an unfurnished 1bed apartment.
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I'm on £18k a year with a bonus on top and manage £480 a month and manage to run a car. Doesn't leave me much left over each month though.
 
MissChief said:
I'm on £18k a year with a bonus on top and manage £480 a month and manage to run a car. Doesn't leave me much left over each month though.
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Well yea, rent is easy. But there's TV licence, gas, leccy, council tax, food, water, etc etc. I've done the budget, I am £75 a month short of doing it without being completely skint all the time.

Not that it matters, I have debts to settle first.
 
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