Moving home whilst on Universal Credit

Johnm2019

Good afternoon,

Hoping someone can clear this up for me please.

We rent a 2 bed for £750, we pay rent on the 7th of each month. We have found another property with the same estate agents, and we move in on the 21st January, we have given our months notice, so we have to be out of here by the 6th February. The only way for the landlord to allow us to move was for us to move in within 2 weeks.

Our assessment period is the 27th of one month to the 26th of the next.

Our LHA is £795, (Myself, partner and child)   Our final rent payment of £750 is due today which covers us until February 6th, could anybody please tell me how Universal Credit will look at this, from my understanding I can update a change of circumstances on my online account on the 21st January(Official tenancy start date) and say we have moved, and to update to the new price which is £850. We won't owe anything on this property after we pay our last months rent today. We are paid Universal Credit on the 3rd of each month, so come February 3rd, would I be looking at getting the maximum LHA rate of £795 paid for our new property? We understand we would be liable for the extra £55.

Sorry if that has confused anyone, happy to explain a bit more if needed!

Thanks,

John

poppy12345

UC is based on your circumstances on the last day of your assessment period. When you move into the new property you report the changes. On the next statement you will receive the new amount for your new property. How much that is will depend on your circumstances and the area you live in. You can check the LHA rates here. https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/

Johnm2019

Hi Poppy,

Thanks for your response.

We are only moving 5 minutes up the road so our LHA is the same, our tenancy agreement ends on our current property on the 6th Feb, but our tenancy agreement on the new one starts on the 21st January . So when you say I should update it when I move in, should that be the tenancy start date, or when we physically move in (Probably around the 28th)         

The last day of my assessment period which would be the 26th January, I (Depending on your answer to the above) would either state we have lived at the new property for a week, or we are still at our current address until the 28th.  Just cannot afford to move in, then UC tell me I am eligible for only the 21st-26th January for the new property.

calcotti

You will be entitled for one property for the whole of your assessment period and the amount you are paid will depend on which property you are claiming for on the last day of the assessment period. Because your help with be higher in your new property it is better for you to have changed address before the end of the assessment period.

Even though the tenancies overlap you will not get help with both.

poppy12345

Don't forget that you'll also be responsible for council tax at both properties as well until you move out of the one you're currently living in.

HillStreetBlues

poppy12345 said:

Don't forget that you'll also be responsible for council tax at both properties as well until you move out of the one you're currently living in.

Worth checking the council's rules, as some  can be exempt if not furnished. 

Johnm2019

Thank you all very much, I will update the change of circumstances on the 21st January to the new property. So by those calculations I should receive the £795 LHA maximum housing benefit element payment of Universal Credit when Universal Credit is paid to me on the 3rd February?

Thanks for all your help.