Comments on: can you claim housing benefit if you live in a commercial property?

By: DAVID M

DAVID M — Fri, 07 May 2010 11:16:56 +0000

Yes of course you can claim Housing Benefit in these circumstances. Providing it is your home, you are liable to pay rent and meet the usual Housing Benefit conditions of entitlement

I am really unclear why people think you cannot. If you were unable to claim Housing Benefit in such circumstances no one living above a rented shop, would ever qualify, which is absurd

By: Anne I

Anne I — Fri, 07 May 2010 06:36:41 +0000

Alan V…. how come you are not a top contributor? you always answer everything so well.

By: alan v

alan v — Fri, 07 May 2010 06:10:49 +0000

Hi I work for benefits, you cannot claim housing benefit on a commercial let even if it is being used for dommestic use.

Do you pay council tax for your flat or is this included in the business rates for the commercial property? If so you need to contact you local council tax office, the council tax office will send a visiting officer who will be able to assess the commercial and domestic properties separateley, they will then be able to create a billable account for council tax on your flat that will be separate from the bussiness rates for the commercial property.

Once there is a separate council tax account for your flat (if there isn’t already) then you can claim housing and council tax benefit.

If the property is being used for dommestic purpose it shouldn’t be classed as a commercial property

Hope this helps

EDIT – Your landlord will also need to provide you with a tenancy agreement that covers the flat separately from the business

By: maurice b

maurice b — Fri, 07 May 2010 03:49:11 +0000

You need to ask your local council, i very much doubt if if you should be living there at all, usually commercial means commercial!

By: Steve B

Steve B — Thu, 06 May 2010 02:08:25 +0000

You can claim housing benefit IF YOU PAY RENT …