Rent Increases Best Time To Report Changes

NedS

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81946144#Comment_81946144

No, I believe it's been used in previous years, in Feb/March to try to discourage claimants from reporting a change early after they receive notification from their LA/Social landlord that rents will increase in April. They seem to start sending these letters out from late Jan onwards and it causes a large amount of unnecessary work for Case Managers, which is what the banner is trying to prevent/mitigate. So it's not a new thing.

8dayweek

Please please please do not report the Rent Increase until the date it happens. You can’t report changes before they occur on the UC claim.

By Monday, all those listed as living in social housing will have a “Tell us about changes to your Housing Costs” task to enter the new Rent and Service Charges, frequency and whether the Rent Increase occurs on 01/04/26 or 06/04/26.

This is the quickest and simplest way for both you and the Landlord (as it’s a shortened version of the verification process).

(Also the “warning” message to not update has been used at least the last 3 years from memory).

TimeLord1

I want to see if the banner Changes it's dates or if the to do list gets updated. Cheers all.

Robbie64

Will a To-Do be sent out automatically on 6 April for anyone whose rent is due to change on that day? Mine changes from the 6th and I was going to report it on the morning but I'm wondering if I should wait until a "Confim your housing costs' To-Do appears. The 6th is on Monday, which is a Bank Holiday, so any To-Do appearing on that day would have to do so automatically.

NedS

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81950238#Comment_81950238

When does your AP end?

Wait for the ToDo if you can. As long as you have reported the change before the end of your AP then there is no urgency.

Robbie64

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81950748#Comment_81950748

My AP ends on the 20th of each month so I'll wait for a to-do to appear.

Newcad

If you are in a 'Social Housing' rental, (AKA a Council house/flat) then UC will almost always show you that banner at this time of year.

If you have the banner telling you to wait for the To-Do then wait for the To-Do.

If you don't have that banner then you probably have a private landlord.

(And of course you have already told UC who your landlord is so they know if it's social or private).

If you don't have that To-Do banner then you should only report any rent change on the day it happens, or shortly afterwards.

With UC you only report changes that have already happened- they are not interested at all in changes that will/might happen at some future date.

Robbie64

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81948513#Comment_81948513

I got a to-do, updated my rent details and the banner disappeared.

TimeLord1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81951614#Comment_81951614

Yep I see it change and a to do to complete by the 19th April but my increase starts on 4th May so keeps red flagging the date even entering the new date on the calendar. Stupid because I will probably have to leave it until May or confirm April when it isn't changed. But it also states confirm your housing costs even if nothing has changed.

Newcad

Mmm, odd that yours changes in May which is probably what is throwing the computer out. Most HA's/councils put rents up at the begining of April.

I would answer the To Do with your current rent for April - and then do a C of C on the 4th of May when it goes up.