Occasionally you may be liable to pay rent on two properties at the same time, for example when you are moving home. If you already get Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, in some special circumstances you could receive benefit on two homes.

We can consider paying benefit on two homes in the following circumstances:

• you are in fear of violence;
• you are students or trainees;
• you are a large family;
• there is an unavoidable overlap while moving.

We can pay benefit on two rented homes for up to a maximum of 52 weeks if you have left your home in the following situations:

• through fear of violence in your home, for example from a family member or neighbour; or
• through fear of violence outside your home by a former member of your family, for example an
ex-partner or adult child.

We can pay benefit on two homes if you or your partner is a student or on a training course and entitled to benefit and it is:

• unavoidable that you need to have two homes;
• reasonable in the circumstances that benefit should be paid on two homes.

If we have housed your family in two separate properties because of the size of the family, we will treat you as occupying both properties as your home and we will pay benefit on both. Both homes must have been provided, but not necessarily owned, by the council.

If you find one or both of your properties through the private sector, benefit can be paid on only one home.

We can pay benefit for up to a maximum of four weeks on both homes in either of the following situations:

• if you cannot move into your new home straight away because it is being adapted to meet the needs of a member of your family who is disabled; or
• if you have had to move in to your new home before the period of notice on your old home has ended and this was unavoidable.

Contact the Benefits Office as soon as possible. Write to us or phone us for a claim form.

St Albans District Council
District Council Offices,
Civic Centre
St Albans,
Herts AL1 3JE

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