If your tenant suddenly moves out – does your Letting Agent know how to get housing benefits paid?

If your tenant suddenly moves out – does your Letting Agent know how to get housing benefits paid even though the tenant is in...

If your tenant suddenly moves out – does your Letting Agent know how to get housing benefits paid even though the tenant is in their new property?

If your tenant is on housing benefits and he/she suddenly moves out without telling you, housing benefits will stop on your property and the tenant will receive it for their new one unless you understand what a Dual Property Application Form is and know what to do with it.

Dual Property Application Form

Housing Benefits for two properties can be paid in some circumstances. Here are some of the reasons why:

Moving property

If your tenant has moved, it may be possible to get housing benefit paid for both your property and their new property but only for up to four weeks. If the tenant could not avoid an overlap between the end of your tenancy and the start of their new tenancy then it can be claimed. For example, if your tenant had to accept the tenancy at their new home immediately but still had to give notice to end their current tenancy.

The tenant left your property because of fear of violence

If the tenant left your property because of fear of abuse or violence housing benefits can be paid for your property and the tenant’s new property for up to one year, as long as the tenant intends to return to their old property. If the tenant does not intend to return to their old property, housing benefits will only be paid on both properties for up to four weeks.

The tenant could be afraid of violence from someone who lived in their old property or a former family member. It also includes fear of violence from their neighbours or fear of racial attacks on their old property.

How do you apply for housing benefits for two properties?

Payments for two properties are not given automatically. NGU Homelettings has the knowledge and procedures to make sure that you receive dual payments in the unfortunate circumstances that a tenant suddenly leaves your property and the tenant qualifies based on the criteria set out in the scheme.

If your current letting agent is not doing this for you and isn`t an expert in Housing Benefits like NGU Homelettings then give us a call.

Yours

Chris Fitzakerley

Managing Director

NGU Group