Housing

cwatson0000

hi there, I’ve got a tenancy ending on July 6th and I’m moving out and looking for better accommodation. Im wondering if I find a new tenancy that’s ready to move into before 6th July, let’s say by a few days, would this affect my universal credit negatively as I would have 2 tenancies out at the same time? Is it better to wait for the first tenancy to come to a complete end before singing a new one?

poppy123456

For housing element you will not be able to claim for both places at the same time. You can put a claim in for a Discretionary Housing Payment from your local Authority for the overlap with rent. It’s not guaranteed though so please be aware of that. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/claiming-discretionary-housing-payments/claiming-discretionary-housing-payments

The most difficult part for you will be finding a landlord that will accept a tenant that claims benefits because the majority of them often refuse.

Just because your tenancy agreement is coming to the end of the fixed period it doesn’t mean you have to move out or liability to pay rent will end. At the end of that fixed period very often a tenancy will revert to a periodic tenancy so month on month rolling. Your tenancy will only end if you hand in your notice to leave the property. See link https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/private_renting/options_when_your_fixed_term_tenancy_ends#:~:text=Your%20tenancy%20becomes%20periodic%20automatically,pay%20your%20rent%20as%20normal.

cwatson0000

Hi Poppy, thanks for your reply.
I’m very lucky to of found a friends mum who has offered to be a guarantor for me, otherwise I would be stuck. The council placed me in a house share despite higher levels of PIP and my anxiety and depression, and I’ve had to live with 7 strangers for the last year. It’s been abysmal. So handing in my notice next month is something I’m definitely doing and I’ve been saving up for a deposit on a flat. So just to clarify, even if I got a new tenancy say on the 1st of July whilst my current tenancy ends on July 6th, would universal credit refuse to pay the rent for that first month?

poppy123456

I just found this link that may help with rent for 2 properties but again it’s not guaranteed. If UC won’t help then it would be the DHP route. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/liability-for-rent-on-two-homes-universal-credit#:~:text=Universal%20Credit%20will%20only%20provide,living%20component%20at%20either%20rate)

I would also advise not to hand in your notice before you’ve found some where else to live because if you haven’t and you find yourself homeless this would be a very difficult situation that you put yourself in. Having a guarantor is good but it’s not guaranteed that a LL would accept that. It’s difficult out there with privately renting.