Can I get housing benefit if I have a mortgage?

If my Mum buys a second property to rent out, can I get Housing Benefit for it?

• Hi there, My Mum has just come off of Carer's Allowance and Income Support after successfully training as a Counsellor for the past 5 years and is now fully qualified and has recently got a job earning around £30,000.00 (P/Year) working at a High School. She get's a good wage and has bought her Council House for £27,000. She took out a 5 year mortgage and pays just short of £400.00 a month. Now, she wants to purchase a second Property to rent out. She has 2 options, I could purchase my Flat but she would take the Mortgage out for it in her name. I have lived in my Flat for around 6 years so I would get a slight discount from Local Authority of around 20% we estimate and we think that she could buy it for around £35,000.00. But then she knows she won't get Housing Benefit for me as it has been bought. The other option is for her to buy a Flat (we have seen several) for around £40,000.00 (for a 1 - 2 Bedroom Flat) and then if I were to move from the Flat I am in at the minute to the newly purchased Flat, would I be able to get Housing Benefit payable to my Mum? I have tried to search online but have found very little on this particular subject. I phoned the Council who pass me through to several departments and put me on hold for like 30 mins so I got fed up on the end and thought to myself.. "Maybe if I sought some Answers on Y!A, someone will know" - :) :D Could somebody tell me if this is possible please. Say my Mum charges £400.00 (P/Calander Month) would Housing Benefit cover this amount? I don't think the "1 room" thing would apply in my case with me being over the age limit which I believe is 16 - 24. I am 25 and Registered: "Disabled" and not that this is important but for anyone else reading who this may be of interest too... If you are classed as "Disabled" and on a "Qualifying Benefit" (D.L.A) then the Housing Benefit only covering a bedroom in a household does not apply to under 25's. For anybody else it does. This is in South Yorkshire anyway, other areas, I cannot comment but is well worth looking into. One can be classed as "Disabled" either "Physically" (i.e.. WheelChair User) or "Mentally" (i.e.. Bi-Polar Disorder). I myself have both Schizophrenia **AND** Mobility Issues. Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks. Lin. x

• Answer:

  You cannot claim housing benefit if you live in property owned by your parent. That is why you cannot claim housing benefit in your current flat if your mother bought it. It has nothing to do with the fact that it was previously owned by the local authority. If you have your own flat I do not see where the "1 Room " thing comes into it as you have your own household,you do not have 1 room in someone elses household.