Means test renting house with others

Mobius one

Hi,

Ive recently moved out of my parents home to a rented house about 2km away in the same town that I am sharing with 3 other strangers whom I had never met previous to 2 weeks ago when I moved in.

I have a seperate lease with the landlord for my tenancy and All food and supplies are seperate for everyone.
The gas, electricity and refuse bills are devided between us and are the only shared things in the household.

When I was at my local social welfare office last week I requested to change my address to which the lady asked me to bring in the lease (no utility bills with my name yet) which I brought in today along with my photo ID but conveniently the office was closing early so I only got to talk to the receptionist as the room with the hatches was locked.

Basically the new address means test form asks for the details of all the other people living in the house and their occupation and weekly earnings.
These people are complete strangers and have no bearing on my means or income and because of this I am wondering are they allowed to ask for this information?

If I was cohabitating I would understand the need for the weekly earnings but asking complete strangers for their weekly earnings when it has no effect on my income is problematic and I can see it causing a problem as my initial request for the information wasn't greeted to well and I dont want to make enemies out of my new housemates :S

Please help as I cant find information about this on citizens info or anywhere on google about what effects my means etc...

Thanks in advance for all advice.

Yawns

Just go to the social welfare explaing you house share and do not know the details of these people. I wouldn't give them to you. All the social welfare need is a copy of lease and some sort of proof you are living there. Just so you know you will not be eligible for rent allowance atm either.

cee_jay

Just fill out the form with their names and not known under their earnings, if asked you can then explain you have just moved into a house share and don't know the details.

Mobius one

Thanks very much for the replies, I was thinking the same about privacy and the fact it has no bearing on me on what they earn or do.
I was thinking that it is pretty unreasonable or SW to ask that as it would cause problems with the other housemates to be so nosey and putting me in a spot at the same time.
Just so I know, can SW ask for those details at some stage and are the other housemates obliged to disclose this info because I really dont want to go down that road as I can see it not going well.

Thanks for the extra info about the rent allowance aswel.

Trish2007

You dont need to give the details of other people in the house if your renting a room in a house. The form you are filling in is identical to the one for couples or families and that is why it asks for their details.

Mobius one

Thank you Trish for that info. I am renting just a room and I am not sharing it with anyone so in the section where is asks do I live alone I say no as I am sharing the cooking area and bathroom but for the details of the housemates should I leave blank, do as the above have suggested or do as above have suggested and write that I have all seperate costs and that they are strangers effectively?

Cheers

Trish2007

I wouldnt put any other details other than your own. Your housemates are strangers and have no effect on your payment for jobseekers allowance. Its no different to you living in a one bed apartment, you still need to feed and clothe yourself and pay your rent.
If you go to the CWO to claim rent supplement you may have to give the names of the people sharing the house but you wont need to give income details.