My father recently passed away leaving the house to my sister and I. I am a single Mum of two teenagers on disability pension. My sister is pushing me to sell the house as she wants to pay off her $60,000 credit card debits.
My sister wants me to start paying rent. I left a home I had rented for 7 years to move into my Dads home and care for him. Anyway my sister wants me to pay rent, I was previously getting rent assistance at my old house but took over paying Dads expenses and care in leiu of rent here.
So my sister wants me to pay rent to her, we are both equal owners in house. And wants me to apply for rent assistance. I would be paying about $200/wk in rent to her (market value for rent $400). Which she will have to declare as income. But as I own the other half of.the house does that disqualify me from rent assistance?
7 Replies
Not sure about that one. You would need to ask Centrelink. It could get messy with rates and repairs later down the track too sounds like a confusing situation. You might be better off selling and using the money to purchase something smaller. Even if it's too small for you and your girls now and you need to rent it out and live elsewhere, if you're on disability I take it you won't be working for a long time if ever? Set your future up while you can.
I think you need to start looking at your options. Living there rent free is just not a solution. Your sister owns half of the house you need to see it from her point of view as well.
Look at a loan that can pay her out her half? even offer to pay 'rent' as the payment.
Get a legal agreement drawn up it seems this could become a serious problem.
If you are part owner then you will not be able to claim rent assistance.
Sorry, but your sister is right, you can’t really live there rent free indefinitely. Sell and maybe you could get your own place or invest it until you can. Good luck, I’m sorry for the loss of your father.
No you can't claim rent assistance when you own or part own a property! It may also effect your pension once you tell them about your asset.
I think you’re sister is being selfish. She should give you 12 weeks Liu(as happens with government housing when tenant dies, the family members have 12 weeks to get things organised to leave or rent privately)
Then you need to work out what you want.
Buy your sister out. Maybe work out a payment plan through a solicitor?
Move and have it rented out
Move out and sell.
I personally think given your current situation moving and renting will benefit you. It’ll buy you more time to decide what you want to do next. You’ll have to declare the income to Centrelink but having a little extra in your pocket will help pay price of next rental plus you’ll be able to claim a small amount of rental assistance.
Your sister should be happy with that as she’s benefiting financially, until rates come around anyway ;)
My fathercpassed away also not too long ago, there is 3 in our family both myself and older sibling have own places, she rents and i have a mortgage. other sibling lives at the house which we will eventually sell. We dont charge rent but have said that any bills thst come in now are hers to pay and council rates will be paid by the money that our father jas left us.
But like i said eventually we are selling..... if u plan to stay there long term or forever then u should either think about buying your sister out or paying something to her as u are sitting on her inheritance too and thats not really fair on her.
also dont see why u would b entitled to rent assistance if you arent actually renting.... u are co owners.
I think u should sell and then look at getting your own place