Universal credit and Housing benefit

[OleLadiesDrawers]

Please be for I start no bashing, it really isn’t required!

I have been living in temporary accommodation for over 5 years and have finally been offered a housing association flat, however I’m having an issue with rent I currently pay most of my rent now with a top-up of housing benefit as it’s temporary accommodation universal credit doesn’t pay this.
I am viewing my new property tomorrow and have to pay a weeks rent upfront (not an issue) but the property won’t be ready to move into until at least the middle of December maybe longer as it is a new build, but as soon as I sign the tenancy I will be liable for the weekly rent and I definitely won’t be able to afford pay rent on two properties.

I’ve looked online and put on my journal asking but have had no joy, so thought I would ask in here if anyone knows if it is possible for universal credit are able to pay towards my new property whilst I still receive housing benefit on the other?

I will eventually move over to universal credit once moved in, but if I don’t sort this out one or both properties are going to be behind on the rent.

Housing benefit gave me 4 weeks of double rent when moving from one HA to another due to having to move in a less than a week later but having to give 4 weeks notice on the old flat. I had to write to them asking for the payment as a special circumstance

They cannot make you liable for rent for a property you can't live in!
The new tenancy cannot start until the property is ready for you to move in to, although you can sign it, the start date should be in December when they will be able to give you keys.

I’ve asked the housing association already and that is how their system works, which is ridiculous.
I've also asked if I can defer putting off signing the tenancy due to not being able to afford rent on both properties, but they have said this also isn’t possible as they aren’t entirely sure when I can move in.
Its possible I could go tomorrow and be told to move in next week, December was an approximate date due to small works still being carried out around the building, the flats are liveable now.

You’ll find out more tomorrow I’m sure. I got a call from a HA one December to say the houses “should be ready by feb” - I took that to mean “possibly April…”.

they were WAY ahead of schedule and some were in first week of Jan - so you may well get the keys tomorrow and then be in a tizz about carpets instead!

worst case scenario - take the keys, pay the week up front, sign the contract, nod and smile - and then pay them £10/week until you DO move in and things are on a more even keel.

Personally I would prioritise rent on the new place and pay as much as you can to where you currently are...they can't kick you out and your moving anyway then pay the arrears you accrue once you're in

Well this is it, I have a feeling they’re going to say I can move in sooner the only good thing is I am a week ahead in rent on my current property so if I need to pay for more than one week on the new one and I can get away with it but not for long.

There are discretionary payments for things like this. They can definitely pay double housing benefits in certain circumstances so make an appointment at your local council and speak to an advisor for proper advice.

Good luck in your new home!

OP you need to apply for a discretionary housing payment through the council you are currently receiving housing benefit from and request overlapping benefit.

Speak to your homeless team contact (I’m presuming you have one of been in temporary accommodation for so long) about a discretionary housing payment - they should be able to access funds to cover deposit and up to 1 month’s rent to secure the property for you (especially as it will free up the temporary accommodation for someone else and will also discharge their liability towards housing benefit for you.

At the same time, once you’ve signed the tenancy agreement you should upload it the day you move in and that should trigger a change of circumstances advance which should be 1/2 the amount your entitlement increases by (although you’ll have to pay that back over a period of time) and will help with the expenses you incur with moving/going forwards.

Thank you for that information.

I have the funds to pay the first weeks rent tomorrow and I will try housing benefit again to see what they can do.

Im not sure though if I will be eligible for any help from universal credit, as I have already asked them and they told me I wasn’t entitled to anything due to the fact that I work.

There is a Facebook group (if you’re on there) called ‘Universal Credit and legacy benefit Advice’ they have a manual calculation tool which shows you if you’d be entitled to anything based on your individual circumstances (online calculators such as Entitled To and Turn2Us aren’t always accurate on deductions). If you do that it will tell you whether it’s worth applying or not x

Gosh your council are difficult. When I was offered a new build I had to wait 5 months to actually get in. Never signed tenancy until the actual day of moving in.

Anyway you need to apply for discretionary housing payment so you can get both rents paid until you move in. Make sure you tell them the full situation

I think liable means as soon as it's ready as opposed to paying rent when you can't move in.