Occasionally you may need 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.
We can consider paying benefit on two homes in the following circumstances:
If you or a family member are disabled and you are waiting for your home to be adapted.
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:
If you are a large family and you are housed 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.
If you have an unavoidable overlap while moving home. We can pay benefits up to four weeks on both homes if:
If you do not move into your new home straight away because you are waiting for it to be adapted to meet to meet the needs of a family member who is disabled, as long as the delay is reasonable; or
If you move into your new home before the period of notice on your old home has ended and this was unavoidable.
Benefit on two homes can sometimes be paid to students, where the student is in a relationship and needs to rent a property where they study as well as the normal home.
We also need the following information in respect of your new tenancy:
0345 302 2315
(Text phone users add 18001 before dialing)
Vale of White Horse District Council
PO Box 880
Erith
DA8 1UN