Moving Home

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do you have to pay rent on two properties?
• Overlapping Benefit?
• Benefit for a period before moving in?(also known as benefit prior to occupation)

Do you have to pay rent on two properties?

Housing Benefit is only paid for the property you are living in. However, you may be able to have your rent paid on both properties in certain cases.

Overlapping Benefit?

You may still be entitled to Housing Benefit for a maximum of four weeks on a property you have vacated if:

• Your landlord is still charging you rent
• You have moved to a new home other than a temporary home and
• You can prove it was unavoidable to pay rent on both homes.

Benefit for a period before moving in?(also known as benefit prior to occupation)

If you have to pay rent from your tenancy commencement date to the date you moved in, you may qualify for Benefit prior to occupation.  The delay in moving must have been either :

1. Necessary in order to adapt the dwelling to meet the disabled needs of you or a member of your family
2. You are waiting for a social fund payment to meet a need arising out of the move or in connection with setting up the home and, a family member must be aged 5 or under, or your applicable amount includes one of the following premiums - Pensioner, Enhanced Pensioner, Higher Pensioner, Disability, Severe Disability or a Disabled Child Premium or
3. You became liable to make payments in respect of the dwelling while you were in hospital or a residential home.

However, even when the above conditions are met for b) or c), benefit cannot be paid if you had to pay rent on a previous property immediately prior to the tenancy commencing at your new address.

Slightly different criteria apply to victims of domestic violence.

To qualify you must apply to the Local Authority within four weeks of moving in to your new home.

For further information contact

Contact Information
Send us a Message	Revenues Division Exchequer and Support Services Tameside MBC Council Offices Wellington Road Ashton under Lyne Lancs OL6 6DL View local map
0161 342 3708
0161 342 2676/2012
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