Housing Element/End of Tenancy/Arrears

NewTime
NewTime Community Member Posts: 83 Contributor
edited 12:27PM in Universal Credit (UC)

Hello all - I need help = AGAIN!

My tenancy ended on 20 September and just by chance, my landlord (a housing association) sold to another landlord (a group) and made official on 1st October.

I am aware that payments due housing element payments are paid in arrears and my Universal Credit payments land on 19th of every month, as the arrears are a month (?) behind, I assume I will get full payment for the payment for 19th October? I have queried this in my journal and had no response.

Since the end of the tenancy my tenancy has gone to rolling, which I only have a email to confirm, will UC accept this? It is a slight problem because the new landlord doesn't really have a good website to contact them on……

Thanks for any help.

Comments

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Community Member Posts: 6,463 Championing

    Hi,

    You should be paid depending on the circumstances on the final day of your UC Assessment Period. So your new landlord should get the full amount, and the previous landlord will still be owed a small amount. They might be able to sort that out between them, or you might have to pay the arrears separately yourself.

    All private renters are on a rolling contract now, fixed term contracts have been abolished under the 2026 Renters Rights Act, so that will be absolutely fine for UC. You will need an official document confirming the new landlords details and rent cost though. I would expect that to be sent as a PDF with the email that you received?

  • NewTime
    NewTime Community Member Posts: 83 Contributor
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1153084#Comment_1153084

    Hello - thanks for replying.

    At the moment, the rent is directly paid to myself, I just would like to know for sure that it will not change and the full amount will still be paid? From your response, it would seem so?

    As for the new landlord, I have only had contact from them saying that there has been a change of landlord……… nothing about the costs and so on……..

  • worried33
    worried33 Community Member Posts: 1,113 Championing

    I would ask them to send something official in regards to them being your landlord, and then pass that on to the DWP informing them your landlord has changed.

    Asking for details of the rent amount carries a risk as it might trigger a rent increase, I would only do that if the DWP tell you to do it.

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Community Member Posts: 6,463 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1153142#Comment_1153142

    Hi,

    Housing Association rent is covered in full. But it depends on what type of group the new landlord is from as to whether it will continue to be paid in full with them. Private rentals are capped at the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) instead.

    When you make the change of landlord details in UC, they are likely to ask to for proof of both landlord details and housing costs. If you can't provide that before the final day of your AP then they may not pay for that month. But it should be backdated if you can provide it during the next AP.

  • NewTime
    NewTime Community Member Posts: 83 Contributor
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1153201#Comment_1153201

    Hi.

    I appreciate this and the difference between each landlord, but considering that husing element is paid in arrears, I should be OK for this month and then have to add details for the next payment?

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Community Member Posts: 6,463 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1153284#Comment_1153284

    No. UC is paid based on the final day of your Assessment Period.

    As you will have a different landlord of the final day of the AP when the tenancy changes over, technically it is them who should get that months payment, not the old landlord.

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