what would you do? - neighbour issue

[lisa12000___]

Originally Posted by Lindaelaine

I can totally see your point and nothing I hate more than people who cheat the system , they are a drain on our social services but playing Devils Advocate I don’t think you should have a grievance about the brand new car and the holidays ? Her boyfriend could well be a very hard worker and earns these things , although it is looking like she is milking the system, if you were in her position would you give up your home and move in with a potentially new partner if you weren’t certain that the relationship is stable enough ? She could be milking him for what he is worth while keeping the house on “ just in case “
Being a tennant I don’t know how much responsibility is hers to keep the house in order but from what you have said she is neglecting it to a point that it is affecting you and that’s not on .
I’m sure there must be rules and regulations when claiming benefits and if she is no longer living in the house then she must be breaking those rules , or is she ? Do you know that she is still claiming benefits ?
I think you are in a tricky situation unless you are certain of all the facts .
My only advice would be to not discuss the situation with anyone else , if surrounding neighbours know of your grievances then it will soon become obvious who has reported her and you will face the consequences of her knowing that . The landlady for one could tell her that you have been complaining about the state of the house .
After reading your first post I was immediately thinking the same as you and many other posters and would want her reporting, but thinking it through it could cause you more problems in the long run . Unless you know all the facts this is just a “ possible “ fraud situation , the authorities will look into it, I just hope it doesn’t come back and bite you on the backside.

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The facts are

1) she left the house last July and has stopped there 4/5 times in the last year

2) I know she’s on benefits still as she stood outside her back door smoking (and throwing her fag butts at my back door) moaning at the council that her housing benefit was paid into her bank late and where was it.

3) tbh I don’t give a stuff if her boyfriend is a hard worker - he knows what she is doing, he drops her off round here and then 30 min later picks her up so he’s as bad as her. She is getting money for her three kids plus housing benefit so you’re not telling me that’s not a factor in her being able to go to Bangkok for a fortnight (without her kids) and then to America for a fortnight all in the space of 12 months.

It’s so hard to articulate everything that has happened without sounding like I’m a busy body which is far from what I am but again for a few months I agreed with you that she is perfectly right to keep the house on just in case but not for over a year and let it go to ruin!

[Lindaelaine]

Originally Posted by lisa12000___

The facts are

1) she left the house last July and has stopped there 4/5 times in the last year

2) I know she’s on benefits still as she stood outside her back door smoking (and throwing her fag butts at my back door) moaning at the council that her housing benefit was paid into her bank late and where was it.

3) tbh I don’t give a stuff if her boyfriend is a hard worker - he knows what she is doing, he drops her off round here and then 30 min later picks her up so he’s as bad as her. She is getting money for her three kids plus housing benefit so you’re not telling me that’s not a factor in her being able to go to Bangkok for a fortnight (without her kids) and then to America for a fortnight all in the space of 12 months.

It’s so hard to articulate everything that has happened without sounding like I’m a busy body which is far from what I am but again for a few months I agreed with you that she is perfectly right to keep the house on just in case but not for over a year and let it go to ruin!

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Please don't think that I am not in agreement with you , like I said, I cannot abide people who cheat the system , looking at it from her perspective she must think she has landed on her feet now living the life of Riley , I was just concerned at the outcome of her finding out who reported her and hoping that it doesn't cause more problems for you .

[duchy]

Originally Posted by Lindaelaine

Please don't think that I am not in agreement with you , like I said, I cannot abide people who cheat the system , looking at it from her perspective she must think she has landed on her feet now living the life of Riley , I was just concerned at the outcome of her finding out who reported her and hoping that it doesn't cause more problems for you .

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If everyone thought that way no crime would ever get reported.
With a couple of kids she's claiming child benefit (which if hard working boyfriend is a high earner she may not be entitled to), tax credits , possibly child support from the children's father (which is ignored for benefit purposes) , housing benefits. No wonder she can afford nice holidays ! That's possibly twenty thousand a year plus any unemployment or Universal credit she's possibly claiming for herself as a single person rather than as a supported cohabiting partner.
If there's only five people in every town in Britain doing this every year , then ... well you do the Math ! (I suspect it's far far higher though)
It's fraud plain and simple . I'd quietly report her . I wouldn't discuss what I believed she was doing with any of the neighbour's though.

[Lindaelaine]

Originally Posted by duchy

If everyone thought that way no crime would ever get reported.
With a couple of kids she's claiming child benefit (which if hard working boyfriend is a high earner she may not be entitled to), tax credits , possibly child support from the children's father (which is ignored for benefit purposes) , housing benefits. No wonder she can afford nice holidays ! That's possibly twenty thousand a year plus any unemployment or Universal credit she's possibly claiming for herself as a single person rather than as a supported cohabiting partner.
If there's only five people in every town in Britain doing this every year , then ... well you do the Math ! (I suspect it's far far higher though)
It's fraud plain and simple . I'd quietly report her . I wouldn't discuss what I believed she was doing with any of the neighbour's though.

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I have already stated that I cannot abide benefit fraud , it doesn’t stop me thinking that the OP has got herself into a tricky position by approaching the landlady and I hope she hasn’t discussed it with any surrounding neighbours either , people should report it and report it as a “ possible “ fraud but do it discreetly .my opinion was not that she shouldn’t report it just that discussing it openly could put her in a tricky situation .

[LadyFromage]

This stuff didn’t use to bother me but for the past 4 years my sister has been on the council waiting list.
Her and my nephew (4.5) live in one room. They don’t have a washing machine or a freezer.
They are in temporary accommodation 20 miles away from family and she works hard (but a minimum wage physical job - she’s dyslexic but has a strong work ethic)

My nephew is starting school in the next few weeks and when the council get around to finding her somewhere he will have to move schools.
I just desperately want him to be settled and get a good start to school life.

Rant over - report her

[Lynda__Loo]

I get why you are a bit hesitant to go ahead and report her but I would definitely report her and the landlady if I was in your situation. I cannot abide benefit cheats!

[Pino_Spetzberg]

Originally Posted by lisa12000___

She is getting money for her three kids plus housing benefit so you’re not telling me that’s not a factor in her being able to go to Bangkok for a fortnight (without her kids) and then to America for a fortnight all in the space of 12 months.

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This woman may frequent popular US holday planning forums.
In addition to not discussing her locally, it may be prudent not to post anything which identifies you on public forums or social media.
Imagine she read this thread, she would know who you are.
Please be careful.

[duchy]

On another note, one of my friends discovered the neighbour her friend was always telling her about who didn't work, was always off to America on holiday , drove a nice car blah blah ... and must be defrauding the system ... was actually me ! She rôared with laughter and pointed out as I worked from home on a late shift so she might very well see me out and about every morning or chilling in my garden but from 2pm to 11pm I'd be at work .
Not saying that's the case in this particular case but sometimes things aren't always what they appear to be.