Sara* was a prospective landlord in Northern Ireland and needed advice on renting for the first time. She had an empty property that she wanted to rent out to a close family member with health conditions. His health conditions prevented him from working.
Sara wanted to understand if she could rent her property to this family member. She wished to receive Universal Credit housing costs for renting the property, as this family member was already receiving Universal Credit.
Our advice
We gave Sara advice to help her understand her legal responsibilities in this complex and sensitive situation.
We advised Sara that:
- There is no restriction on renting a property to a close family member
- The landlord will have to follow all the legal requirements for landlords in Northern Ireland, including registering as a landlord with the Landlord Registration Scheme. Registering has been a legal requirement since 2014 and costs £70 for three years.
- The family member may ask Universal Credit for help with the rent
- However, it may not pay housing costs if the property belongs to a claimant’s family member. They may believe it to be a contrived tenancy.
Further support
The family member may ask for the decision to be looked at again if it is refused. The landlord may advise them to contact our Housing Helpline or their local Community Advice service for guidance if this happens.
*Name has been changed to protect privacy