Moving & Housing Benefit - Overlapping Tenancy

Malicia_Crass

Also on the House Renting board but it was suggested it might be better here


We viewed a property and submitted credit check forms on Friday.
It should be approved on Monday (tomorrow), and we can proceed with arranging the tenancy :j.
The landlord wants us in ASAP, and I'd prefer to move before 25th October (I'm a student nurse, and start a new work placement then. Bad timing to move, but I'm at the end of my tether with consistent problems with the current property. Environmental health have been out several times, repairs still havn't been done, and I can't stay here for another winter).

If I give notice on my current flat tomorrow, there will be an overlap in the tenancies of almost 2 weeks.

We get Housing Benefit as my partner is not in paid employment, which pays most of the rent.
Does anyone know if I would be entitled to housing benefit on both properties for the overlap? On the Shelter site it says the overlap has to be "unavoidable". I have Bipolar 2 and additional stress eg. moving in my first week of a new job would probably affect my mental health.

Does anyone have any experience of this, or know how to apply for the dual payment?

Thanks
& sorry for rambling!

Duncombe

I'm afraid I can't answer your question but I'm not totally convinced that suffering from bipolar disorder would mean your move was "unavoidable". Perhaps if you had a week old baby and your old house was rendered uninhabitable due to fire/flood damage or something, it may be different.

From your post, it seems like it was your choice to move property (not saying that you are not within your rights to do this) but expecting HB to cover 2 sets of rent might be setting hopes a little high.

Still, it might be best to speak to your current HB providers and ask them.

Malicia_Crass

I'm going to call tomorrow and see if I can get an appointment.

It's not the move that has to be unavoidable, it is the overlap - if I move on November 4th (so there would be no overlap) I will have just started a new job, and will not be able to have time off (due to having a minimum number of hours required for the course). Stress has a big impact on my health so I really need to move beforehand.

hurricanewyn

You can get Housing Benefit on two homes - but like Shelter say, the overlap has to be unavoidable. What is considered unavoidable, will differ from authority to authority. If, for example, your new landlord had other tenants interested in his property and wasn't prepared to wait for you to finish your old one, that could be considered unavoidable - with a supporting letter from your new landlord confirming this. The best thing to do, is obviously to wait your old tenancy out - your own health generally wouldn't be considered a reason for moving immediately unless your doctor has recommended an immediate move. Likewise, problems with the old property wouldn't be, unless Environmental Health declared the property uninhabitable (and even then the authority may decide you have no liability if your property is unfit for habitation). Best thing is to ring the authority and talk it through with them before committing to a new tenancy if you can't afford the rent at a new property

fluffymovie

Have to be really careful with this as HB on 2 homes can only be paid for the period after you move into your new home,

I see a lot of claims come across my desk where a claimant is living in a property and is offered a Council Tenancy for example. They have to take up the new tenancy very quickly and as long as they move in on day 1 of the new tenancy, they can have HB paid on their old address for up to 4 weeks.
However, a lot of people don't move into the new address as they are waiting for furniture or carpets or sometimes, just someone to help them move in. None of these are reasons for a delay in moving in and HB is just paid on the old home until they move into the new one.

Malicia_Crass

fluffymovie wrote: »

as long as they move in on day 1 of the new tenancy, they can have HB paid on their old address for up to 4 weeks.

Yes, I noticed that when I was looking into it - we plan to move as soon as we get the keys (as I want to move before I start my new work placement on 25th Oct).
I spoke to someone today at HB office who advised me to write a letter, but also that she doubted that we would be eligible
So it now looks like I'll be starting the new job and moving in the same week!
I need to speak to the letting agent tomorrow, as I'm worried the landlord won't want to wait that long for us to take up the tenancy...

welshmoneylover

Can't you save up to meet the shortfall yourselves?

Malicia_Crass

welshmoneylover wrote: »

Can't you save up to meet the shortfall yourselves?

Unfortunately not - we're having a DIY move in a hired van, and have used all the savings to cover the credit check, deposit and month's rent up front. Won't be able to find another two weeks rent to cover the overlap so I'm just hoping the landlord will agree to start the tenancy in a month...

Duncombe

Malicia_Crass wrote: »

So it now looks like I'll be starting the new job and moving in the same week!

My sister will be giving birth (scheduled c-section due to babies and mothers recently discovered ill-health and suspected disabilties ) and moving county within a week. They have their Ars3hole landlord to thank for this.

Still, you just get on with stuff don't you

Hopefully your move won't be stressful.

Caz3121

Malicia_Crass wrote: »

If I give notice on my current flat tomorrow, there will be an overlap in the tenancies of almost 2 weeks.

When is your rent date? - note you need to give your full notice before rent day and your notice will be counted from then eg if rent day is 1st of month and you give notice now you will be liable until end November (unless you have something in your agreement that says the months notice can be at any time)

Malicia_Crass

Caz3121 wrote: »

When is your rent date? - note you need to give your full notice before rent day and your notice will be counted from then eg if rent day is 1st of month and you give notice now you will be liable until end November (unless you have something in your agreement that says the months notice can be at any time)

We can give our month's notice at any time, luckily

Have spoken to someone at the Letting Agents who confirmed this, and I think we are going to move over a weekend and end the tenancy on the monday or tuesday (time to pop back and give the place a good scrub, I need that deposit back!).

Someone had said that we may be eligible for housing benefit on both properties, so i thought I'd look into it (would make things so much easier, and also mean I could move out before the really bad weather sets in!) , but it looks unlikely, so hey ho!
I'm just looking forward to moving to somewhere safer - we have unlit rear-access behind some shops at the moment, and very poor drainage - no more wellies!!! No more muddy boots or smelly bins

Now, just need to arrange a van for our DIY move - oooo and boxes, although I think I have some under the bed from last time