Paying rent on two homes

In exceptional cases we may pay Housing Benefit to help you pay rent on two homes at the same time.

Eligibility

Overlap in tenancies

If you have been offered a new tenancy at short notice and you haven't had time to serve the full notice required to your landlord, we may pay Housing Benefit for a maximum of four weeks to cover the overlap. You must meet strict criteria for this to apply if the landlord re-lets the old property once you have moved out.

Adaptions for disability

If you are moving into a new home which is being adapted to meet your or a family member's disability needs, we can pay Housing Benefit for a maximum of four weeks while the work takes place.

Large families

If your family is too large for one property we can pay Housing Benefit on all the properties you and your family live in.

Student couple

If a couple cannot reasonably live in the same property because one person is a student and the other works in a different area, we may pay Housing Benefit.

Fleeing violence

If you are temporarily leaving your home because you are afraid of violence, we can pay Housing Benefit on two homes to help you through the difficult time. .

When we will not pay 

We will not pay Housing Benefit on two homes if you left your old home because essential repairs were being carried out. We assume that you no longer need to pay rent there if the property is uninhabitable.

If you have received a social fund loan to buy new furniture and appliances to make your home habitable, we will not pay Housing Benefit on two homes.