Moving into my mum’s house while she moves abroad – Starting a brand new UC Housing Element claim (renting from a close relative)
Hi everyone, I really need some advice on starting a brand new Universal Credit claim.
My mum has to move abroad for a while to care for my grandmother. I’m planning to move out of my current 1-bed house and into her much larger property to live there completely alone, look after it, and keep it secure. Because it’s a big jump in costs, I’ll need to apply for the UC housing element to afford it.
We want to do everything strictly by the book to ensure it's a completely legitimate commercial tenancy:
We are getting a formal tenancy agreement drawn up.
She is requesting Consent to Let from her mortgage bank.
She is sorting out the official paperwork to ensure the property bills are legally tied to the tenancy so they get covered.
Most importantly, she will have absolute proof that she is living abroad while I am there (flights, visa paperwork, care agreement, etc.).
I know the DWP puts renting from a close relative under a massive microscope for "contrived tenancies."
Has anyone successfully started a brand new UC housing claim renting a parent's house while the parent was physically living abroad? Did having the bills legally organized alongside proof of her being overseas help convince the decision-maker that it’s a genuine commercial arrangement? I’d love to know what specific evidence they asked you to upload to the journal. Thanks!