Universal / housing benefits x

[Mumr19]

Hi guys I've been offered a property and I accepted and having the keys Monday, but today I had to pay £477 of my rent to my current landlord , I handed my month notice on today too, basically when I have the keys Monday will housing benefit start from next month? Sorry if that doesn't make sense, just don't want to end up in rent arrears x

Are you on Universal credit or Housing benefit?

When you apply they should tell you when they will pay from

@Babyroobs both sorry xx

You can't be on both - it's one of the other. If you are paying 2 rants concurrently during your notice period neither will pay both though. You'll need to make up the rent of your new property until your payment is due again

Pay the rent on your new property
Apply to your council for DHP
Advice your old property you’ll have to have a payment schedule to pay of the last months rent
Contact council tax to advise them you’re going to need a payment schedular as your going to have to pay council tax on an empty property if they charge for this - some council do others don’t

Housing benign will pay on both property from the day you move to the new property but not before

Universal credit will not pay on two properties

Always give notice to be in line with signing new property and don’t have an overlapping period

Housing association are aweful for doing this and putting tennants into hardship

Housing benefit - actual housing benefit from the council not housing allowance within a universal credit claim MAY pay your notice period if you move into your new property.

Universal credit (housing allowance) will only pay the property you are resident in for the assessment period and you will need to pay the rent arrears yourself.

@midnightstar66 I know I can't be on both. I meant that my last payment got paid yesterday to my landlord ( at my flat ) I'm getting the keys to my new house Monday, so I was asking would universal credit pay the rent to my new property on the 13th of August

@Mumr19 Are you currently claiming housing benefit and will be moving outside of the current council?

If your still in the same council (and don't need to claim UC for other reasons like jobseeking) you can continue claiming HB at the new property.

@Hwory hi yeah I don't think I was clear enough, if you read what I replied above just now hopefully that make more sense xx

Just give them a call and inform them of the move. They can talk you through it easier than we can explain. Don't you have to pay a deposit or any money up front to the next property?

@midnightstar66 not if it’s a council property

@midnightstar66 no because it's council x

Housing benefit will pay up until you leave, universal credit will pay housing element on new place but it will be a month in arrears. You may be able to borrow a budgeting advance from universal credit for moving costs which you may have to use to pay the first few weeks rent unfortunately. Is your rent weekly, 2 weekly, 4 weekly or monthly?

@GracieLane that's actually a really good idea thankyou! I totally forgot about the budgeting advance! X

I don't know why they pay UC in arrears when they know that rent always has to be paid in advance (council or private). But that's what they do.

Your best bet is to ring the Council rent department and explain the situation - they should be able to talk you through a repayment of arrears plan.

Good luck in your new property!

If you're moving out Tuesday, why are you paying a month's rent on your current place now? Will you be due any deposit or rent back from your current property?

Also - some boroughs or councils may have a discretionary hardship payment - my borough does. This can be a one-off payment of a certain amount for when you move into your new place - for e.g. for paint/flooring/white goods if you need them etc. When you get the keys ask the council for an application form if they have such a payment.

My borough also doesn't charge for the first week's rent on a new property - I didn't move in on the day as the place was a tip, so I got painting done in the first week and moved in the date the rent was due from.

You may be able to apply for discretionary housing payment from the council for the HB on the old place if you need to pay the months notice period. Are you moving from private to council?

@GimmeAy basically I have to pay £477 to my landlord, I done it as some as my money went in then went to view the property which I wasn't 100% on, so I paid it and ended up falling in love with the property so I accepted it🥺 yes I am expecting my bond back! Fingers crossed I get it back, but it's not 100% because my landlord will find something to keep it unfortunately so I'm not holding on to hope there x

I had no flooring/bed/table/chairs/nothing when I moved in so slept on a blow up mattress for a few months until I got sorted. It can be so stressful moving. But you'll get on your feet eventually.

@GracieLane hi yes I'm moving from private to council, I already paid my full months rent yesterday for my private property, I am signing the tenancy Monday for my new one x

@GimmeAy thankfully it is basically all done, the walls are painted, there is carpet upstairs in my little boys room and my room, kitchen and bathroom and floored, only flooring I have to do is the stairs and the living room, which thanks to my family they're helping me out x

The council usually expect this to happen so give them a call and they will give you more information.

@GracieLane and because I paid that yesterday I don't need to pay the notice period x