Housing benefit on two homes

Occasionally you may be liable to pay rent on two properties at the same time, for example when you are moving home. If you already receive Housing Benefit, in some special circumstances you could receive benefit on two homes.

When benefit can be paid on two homes

We can consider paying benefit on two homes in the following circumstances:

• you are in fear of violence
• you are a large family
• you are waiting for adaptations to be made to a new home for your or a family member's disability needs
• there is an unavoidable overlap when moving home

Benefit on two homes can sometimes be paid to students, see more about Housing Benefit claims for students.

If you want to claim benefit on two homes, please contact us as soon as soon as possible. Please note carefully the information that we need.

Fear of violence

We may be able to pay benefit on two rented homes for up to a maximum of 52 weeks if you have left your original home through fear of violence:

• in your home
• outside your home by a former member of your family, for example, an ex-partner or adult child

You must have an intention to return to your home and we must consider it reasonable to pay benefit on both properties.

Large families

If we have housed your family in two separate properties because of the size of your family, we will treat you as occupying both properties as your home and we will pay benefit on both.

Both homes must have been provided, but not necessarily owned, by the Council. There is no time limit on the payments.

Unavoidable overlap while moving home

There are some situations when Housing Benefit can be paid for up to a maximum of four weeks on both homes.

• You do not move into your new home straight away because you're waiting for it to be adapted to meet the disablement needs of you or a family member, as long as the delay is reasonable. The adaptation must involve a change to the fabric or structure of the property (furnishing, carpeting or decorating is not sufficient).
• It's unavoidable to move into your new home before the period of notice on your old home has ended.

Information we need

To consider your claim for Housing Benefit on two homes at the same time we'll need evidence and information. Depending on the situation, we'll need:

• evidence of the date your liability to pay rent at your old property ended
• confirmation of the date you gave your landlord notice that you were leaving the property
• the date you physically moved out - if you moved out before your notice period ended you'll need to give reasons for this
• if the property has been re-let and if so from which date
• if your move was delayed due to the new property being adapted for your needs we will need evidence of this
• a police incident report and crime number if applicable

We also need the following information in respect of your new tenancy:

• evidence of the date the new tenancy was offered to you - you should have received an offer letter which you can provide to us
• evidence of the date that you accepted the tenancy - a copy of your new tenancy agreement will show this
• confirmation of the date you moved into this address - if you used a removal firm or hired a vehicle, a receipt may show the date this happened
• reasons for the move and when you decided you were leaving your previous property