30 days notice given but not paid any bond. What happens next? More below...

xxkitcatsxx

Hi all!

I'm currently renting and receiving some housing benefit and council tax benefit as I'm a single mum of 2 on a low income, but as of Saturday the 14th, I will be moving in with my partner and then all benefits will stop as he is working also.

My housing benefit currently gets sent straight to the landlord so I have no idea whereabouts he has been paid up to as it is paid every 4 weeks to him.

My tenancy here ends on the 2nd of May.

1) What happens if I have paid a months rent (£340) in advance? Do I not pay the last 5 days? (I pay every month on the 27th and have paid this months from 27th March to 26th April) Or do I owe for the 5 extra days despite paying a month in advance at the start of the tenancy?

I was not asked to pay any kind of bond so have scrubbed the place from top to bottom and painted all the walls just in case!

2) Also, what happens with the council tax? Do I pay on both properties full price, this property at benefit price or just one as this is empty from the 14th of April?

Please help I'm so confused as I've not been on benefits long and it's all so confusing plus whenever I have moved before, it has been at the beginning or end of the month with only a few days to a week overlap so council tax has never been an issue!

Thanks in advance!

G_M

Until your tenancy ends you ar responsible for the rent, the utility bills, the council tax etc. Whether you choose to live there or elsewhere (ie your partner) is irrelevant.

You should be keeping track of the rent paid to the LL whether by you or via HB so you should know if you are in arrears or fully paid up. It is your responsibility to ensure the rent is paid. I suggest you ask the HB for a full breakdown of what they have paid and when. I suggest you also ask your landlord for a rent statement showing what he has received and when. Then compare the two. I assume you are 'topping up' the HB, so you should also know what you have paid?

1) if your monthly payments cover the period 27th to 26th of each month, you pay in advance, and your tenancy will end on 2nd May, you will need to pay rent to cover 26th to the 2nd.

If you have not paid a bond (deposit) then there is no bond to be returned to you. If you owe rent, leave the property dirty, or have caused damage, the LL can ask you to pay. If you refuse, he can take you to court for what you owe.

2) If the property is empty (unfurnished too) I believe you can apply for council tax exemption. Ask the CT office! Your partner should be paying CT where he lives. Whether he asks you to contribute is up to him (and you). I doubt if you can claim CT benefit on a property where you do not live, but ask the CT office or post on the benefits forum.