Sorry this is a long winded, but here goes.
Last January we moved into our present home, the landlord reduced the rent as he wanted to be paid HB directly to him the rent was agreed at £825.00 pcm, LHA rate was £725.00 pcm, we pay a £100.00 pcm shortfall directly to him every month.
He did say when my son became 16 he would be putting the rent up as we would then be entitled to a four bedroomed property (we have a daughter 12 and another son 9) and the relevent LHA rate. My son was 16 December 2012, the council automatically put the rate up to cover 100% of our rent which was £825.00 as obviously i understand the max they can pay you is %100 of the rent set at the time. Previously i had asked the council about the rent increase and we were told it couldn't be considered until January 23rd 2013 which was 12 months from when we took over the tenancy, which is when the planned increase was taking place anyway.
From January 23rd our rent increases from £825.00 to £1100.00, as the LHA for a 4 bedroomed house is £950.00 pcm this left a shortfall of £150.00 which we felt we could cover.
Today i contacted the council and was told they cannot pay the increase although they agreed that we are entitled to a four bedroomed rate, but because they increased the rate when my son became 16 a month ago they can't increase again until December 2013.
Has anyone else come across this? we have today applied for discretionary payments but i'm not holding my breath.
Last January we moved into our present home, the landlord reduced the rent as he wanted to be paid HB directly to him the rent was agreed at £825.00 pcm, LHA rate was £725.00 pcm, we pay a £100.00 pcm shortfall directly to him every month.
He did say when my son became 16 he would be putting the rent up as we would then be entitled to a four bedroomed property (we have a daughter 12 and another son 9) and the relevent LHA rate. My son was 16 December 2012, the council automatically put the rate up to cover 100% of our rent which was £825.00 as obviously i understand the max they can pay you is %100 of the rent set at the time. Previously i had asked the council about the rent increase and we were told it couldn't be considered until January 23rd 2013 which was 12 months from when we took over the tenancy, which is when the planned increase was taking place anyway.
From January 23rd our rent increases from £825.00 to £1100.00, as the LHA for a 4 bedroomed house is £950.00 pcm this left a shortfall of £150.00 which we felt we could cover.
Today i contacted the council and was told they cannot pay the increase although they agreed that we are entitled to a four bedroomed rate, but because they increased the rate when my son became 16 a month ago they can't increase again until December 2013.
Has anyone else come across this? we have today applied for discretionary payments but i'm not holding my breath.