Can I own a field and claim HB?

A question about : Can I own a field and claim HB?

We are a family of five who rent a smallholding privately but the rent is high. We have quite a few animals.

My uncle lent us some money for a deposit but wecan't get a mortgage as we are both on low incomes and self employed. The money is sitting in a low interest account as we can never decide what to do. It is below the Ј16000 limit. I want to buy just a couple of acres with this money.

Is that possible or will it mean we will no longer be able to claim HB?

All advice and info greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Best answers:

• Im thinking out of the box here but here's a mad idea, why not pay the cash back to your Uncle?
• OK! Please help me understand.
  You decide to live a lifestyle with quite a few animals. You then want to buy a couple of acres to keep the animals? That's is absolutely fine and I hope that your plans come to fruition.
  But then you want to claim housing benefit, so that then me as a tax payer is supporting your animals and land ownership? Does that seem fair, to you?
  How about living within your means? If you cannot earn enough money to live your lifestyle, then cut your cloth accordingly. It's what I do. Why are you any different?
• Previous replies seem to assume that these animals are pets, or just expensive indulgencies.
  Is it a real smallholding, and are these animals part of it? goats, sheep, cow, chickens?
  If that is the case then surely the OP's position is just like any other person on low pay, entitled to certain benefits to supplement income?
  If using the money to buy land would result in increased output from the smallholding, then wouldn't that additional income reduce the person's dependence on benefits, and so be laudable?
  It would be a bit like someone being given money to buy a car, and so being able to get a better job?
• Hello Rosie Cornish
  You can claim housing benefit on your property if it is your sole residence https://www.adviceguide.org.uk/englan...ng_benefit.htm
  If your field has a dwelling on it that you live in then you may be entitled to some benefit and you can check by following this link https://www.turn2us.entitledto.co.uk/...alculator.aspx