RA Question

[guest]

I'm in a bit of a quandary here and I hope someone can give me advice. I have recently split from my girlfriend that I have been living with. We're both mature students on Rent Allowance, and have medical cards together etc. We have been in a one bedroom apartment and I'm on the sofa at the moment. As we are still good friends, and neither of us can afford to get a place on our own that's half decent, we are thinking that our best option may be to just rent a bigger place, like a 2 bed or something, together. If we do go down that route, will we get a load of hassle off the CWO/medical cards etc about whether or not we are still a couple? It's just that it's starting to look like our only option, especially as we have to sort something out quickly (for the sake of my back, if nothing else).

 

[gipimann]

You should talk to your CWO - if you co-rent a 2-bed property, bear in mind that the maximum rent limits for shared accommodation (i.e. renting rooms in a house or apartment) are lower than the limits for non-shared accommodation (individual self-contained units). Once you are upfront about the situation, you shouldn't get any hassle about the change in circumstances.