Housing Benefits on two homes

The Council can consider paying housing benefit on two homes in exceptional circumstances.

These are: -

1. Fear of violence
2. Student/trainees
3. Large families
4. Unavoidable overlapping liabilities

1. Fear of violence

The Council must treat you as occupying two homes for a maximum period of 52 weeks where you have left and remain absent from your former home through fear of violence

• in the previous home; or
• by a former member of the claimant's family

However this only applies if

• it is reasonable that Housing Benefit should be paid in respect of both your former home and your present home and
• you intend to return to occupy your former home

2. Students/trainees

If you or your partner, are a student and are eligible to Housing Benefit or you are on a training course and it is:

• unavoidable that you should occupy two separate dwellings: and
• it is reasonable that Housing Benefit should be paid in respect of both properties
  There is no time limit on the payment on two homes if this was to be awarded, however the Council would need to be satisfied that the occupation of two homes is unavoidable

3. Large families

If you have been housed in two separate properties because of the size of your family by the Council you will be treated as occupying both properties as your home and Housing Benefit paid in accordance with the rent charged for both properties. Please note that both homes should be provided, but not necessarily owned by, the Council. If you find your own properties through private sector housing this provision will not apply.

4. Unavoidable overlapping liability

If you are liable to make payments for two homes, the Local Authority must treat you as occupying the two properties as your home where you:

• have moved into the property; and
• could not reasonably have avoided liability in respect of both of them
  A maximum period of 4 weeks will be paid for this provision

This rule would apply for example where a claimant in housing need is offered at short notice an appropriate new tenancy and is obliged to take up liability for the new tenancy before the period of notice required by the landlord of the old home has expired. Housing Benefits is only payable on both properties during this period, however, if the claimant has a liability for and has actually moved into the new property whilst having a liability to make payments on the old home.

What happens if my move is delayed due to having adaptations made for my disability?

If you are liable to make payments for two homes you should be treated as occupying both properties as your home where you have had to remain in your old home while necessary adaptations to the new home are made to meet your disabled needs or those of a member of your family. The delay in moving in must be reasonable and payment on the future home is limited to 4 weeks.