Housing

I have rented a house to a family member and housing benefit was paid, as it was not my home and it had previously been let to tenants.
It might be worth enquiring about it, tho, if you are thinking of doing that.

Be very careful about buying to let and then renting to them if there is any question of housing benefit involved. You'd probably find that if the house is owned by a family member HB would not be paid.

Thanks again for supportive comments much appreciated

Agree with suedonim An eviction is easily the result if one complains to the council.
A friend was living in appalling conditions.
Her bathroom was falling into the front room of the flat below. The joists holding up the floor were rotten. Because of the black dampness you could see the outline of her bathroom floor on the ceiling of the flat below.
It was a converted victorian house.
She had a two year old child and a thirteen year old daughter.
The walls were so damp that fur grew on clothes , bedding etc.
Environmental health got involved. They served a notice on the landlord to do the work.
. My friend was duly evicted.

PamelaJI she will go on maternity leave, like they all do now and then return to work. I have wondered if we should consider a buy to let and let it to them, but it is a big commitment and the figures don’t seem to be conclusive.

We have just started looking into the Barclays scheme but you still have to meet their criteria. I presume theOP’s daughter will be giving up work for some time. Will money become tighter?
Our DD is renting from us at present but we may need to sell the property in the future so we are investigating other options.

What NewNanny has contributed is very sound advice/information. Options are contact LL to have suitable repairs done, contact Council if no positive and quick action, help with deposit for better place.

I have never had one and unless you have I don’t think you can put yourself in anyone else’s shoes.

So true Hildegard

Don't take any notice of the nay sayers - you and she are where you are. If you can afford it, we helped our dd3 by getting a Barclays help to buy.We put so much into an account with them, locked for 3 years, then she could get a low deposit. As long as she didn't default over 3 years we got our money back -with a little bit of interest. She didn't and we have. Good luck

I have had numerous miscarriages and my heart goes out to your family, and yes the whole family is effected. I can understand how she wants to try again and I hope she is getting plenty of medical support.
I think maybe you need to discuss things with your daughter and son in law about how they see things on the housing front. It might be that they have not wanted to ask you for help or because of everything else going on they need assistance with tackling the landlord.

Thank you for some of the lovely comments and positive advice. As for not having a third child, after the miscarriage.!? We nearly lost her and the whole family were devastated, this new baby is part of her healing process, mentally and physically. I have never had one and unless you have I don’t think you can put yourself in anyone else’s shoes.

A friend has been in a similar situation with a rented home in bad condition. They put pressure on the LL to make repairs and found themselves served with an eviction notice despite being excellent tenants.

So be prepared for that happen.

Can your Dd go to letting agencies and see what else is available?

If you have some savings you could use them as a deposit for a buy to let mortgage and let your DD pay you, as a tenant, to pay off the mortgage this would enable them to have a house without spending all your savings. The building society suggested I help my son in this way. As long as the rent will cover the repayments then your age and income is not taken into account (according to my building society). We didn't follow this option in the end but it's worth considering

First stop is a try at getting the Landlord to do what he should, why he should want a run down property goodness knows,others have described how. When the baby comes the Midwife and the Health Visitor are going to turn up and this might be an opportunity to get someone to take an interest. Whether you should lend or give money in this situation is debatable, hang on a bit and see what happens when baby is here, don't give anything you really can't afford, you will all regret it.

The situation is the OP's dd is pregnant. As she had a previous miscarriage she must want another child. If the boiler breaks the LL must get it repaired or replaced. Ask the LL to sort out the ceiling falling down tell him it is a safety hazard and unless sorted out will be reported to council. This sounds like a bad and lazy LL and maybe you could encourage your dd to move to a better rented property and assist her with the deposit if needed. I am a LL and would never expect people to live in a property I would not live in myself. The fact is that all repairs and even a replacement boilers can be written off against my tax bill so there is no advantage in not getting the work done, and it will keep the value in the property. LL's should maintain their property to a good standard and certainly never allow them to become a safety hazard. Any debt problems your dd had should have been taken off her credit record after six years. She may not realise this.

I know i will get slated for saying this but i cannot understand having a third child if there were financial problems after first and cannot afford to do needed repairs. I appreciate landlord has obligations but most people would want to decorate. Do they want a home of their own, if so even more reason not to have a third child but hey....each to their own.

It's not totally ok, GabriellaG, but as the OP's daughter is now pregnant there's not much point in criticising.
They have to deal with the current situation.

FarNorth
It's ok then to carry on having children whilst living in accomodation where the 'ceiling is falling down' and the property is in a poor condition?
That's as bad if not worse than spending your money on fripperies whilst sleeping on the floor.

Consider help to buy schemes and shared ownership schemes which could be the answer. Worth going online or checking with local estate agents. The amount paid in mortgage/rent is often less than rent in the private sector and there is opportunity to climb the housing ladder further.

I'm not sure which but there is a least one mortgage company where parents can provide the deposit but it is still their money and after a period of time is repaid to them. A mortgage advisor should be able to give you advice.

Hildagard, definitely consult the council about getting their current house repaired.
And help them look for other rented property or part-ownership.

No flames, GabriellaG, but it's a bit pointless you saying that.
People don't always want to halt all aspects of their lives until circumstances are perfect.

At the very real risk of being shot down in flames, why have another child if the property they are renting is in such poor condition? Why not save for a deposit and buy OR move to a better area/property?
That would be much more sensible.

you simply cannot live other people's lives for them. Be kind and generous, but dont leave yourself short.

Hi - Credit ratings can improve quite quickly, so help to buy or shared ownership may not be out of the question. You could also look at helping with the deposit for a better rented house? Definitly check out tenants rights. Private landlords charge the earth, usually more than mortgage payments! For that the houseing should be to a certain standard. It sounds as if theirs falls short. It is frustrating when people can afford to rent, and pay rent regularly, but are still considered a bad risk for a mortgage!