Moving home is stressful at the best of times, and if you claim Universal Credit there are extra things to get right so that your housing support continues without a gap. Reporting the move properly and at the right time is the key to keeping your rent covered. This guide explains how to keep your Universal Credit housing payments right when you move home, and the traps to avoid.
Report your move straight away
The most important thing is to report your change of address through your Universal Credit journal as soon as you know you are moving, and again once you have moved in. Your housing element is based on where you live and what you pay, so until you update your details, your payment will not reflect your new home. Reporting promptly avoids your rent going unpaid and stops you building up an overpayment for your old address.
Give your new housing details
When you move, you will need to provide your new address, your new rent, and your landlord's details, and you may be asked to provide evidence such as your tenancy agreement. Make sure these details are accurate, because your housing element is worked out from them. If you are a private renter, your support will be based on the Local Housing Allowance for your new area, which may be different from your old one.
How the timing works
Universal Credit is worked out in monthly assessment periods, and your housing element for a period usually reflects your circumstances at the end of that period. This means the timing of your move within your assessment period can affect when the change shows up in your payment. If you are unsure how a move part way through a period affects you, ask through your journal or get advice, so there are no surprises.
Avoiding a gap in your rent
The aim is to make sure there is no gap where your rent is not covered. Report your move in good time, keep your journal updated, and respond quickly to any questions from Universal Credit, so your housing element switches to your new home smoothly. If there is a short period where your support does not cover your rent, speak to your landlord and consider a Discretionary Housing Payment to bridge it.
Help with the costs of moving
Moving home can be expensive, with a deposit, rent in advance and removal costs to find. If money is tight, there are several possible sources of help. A Discretionary Housing Payment from your council can sometimes cover a deposit or rent in advance, a Budgeting Advance from Universal Credit can help with one-off costs, and some councils and charities run rent deposit schemes. It is worth exploring these before you commit to a move.
Council Tax Reduction does not move with you
If you move to a different council area, remember that Council Tax Reduction does not transfer automatically. You will need to make a new claim to your new council, as each council runs its own scheme. Do this promptly after you move, because a delay could mean you pay full council tax for a period when you were entitled to a reduction, and backdating is limited.
Check the rent before you commit
Before you agree to a new tenancy, check whether your housing element will cover the rent, especially as a private renter, where the Local Housing Allowance caps your support and may be lower than the rent being asked. Moving to a home you cannot afford once your support is taken into account can quickly lead to arrears, so do the sums first and get advice if you are unsure.
Moving to or from special accommodation
If you move into supported, sheltered or temporary accommodation, or out of it into an ordinary tenancy, the way your rent is paid changes, because supported and temporary accommodation is covered by Housing Benefit rather than the Universal Credit housing element. Make sure you claim the right help for your new home, telling both the council and Universal Credit, so your rent continues to be met without a gap.
Two homes for a short period
Universal Credit usually only helps with the rent on one home, but there are limited situations where you can get help with two homes for a short time, such as when you have had to move because of fear of violence and are still liable for rent on your old home. If you find yourself paying rent on two properties through no fault of your own, get advice quickly, as you may be able to get help for both for a period.
Moving for work
If you are moving home to take up work or to be closer to a job, there may be extra help available, such as from the Flexible Support Fund, which can sometimes assist with the costs of starting work, including moving. If your move is connected to employment, ask your work coach what help might be available, as support that is not widely known about can make a real difference to the cost of relocating.
Keep your tenancy paperwork
When you move, keep your new tenancy agreement and any related paperwork safe, as Universal Credit may ask to see evidence of your new rent and tenancy. Having these documents to hand means you can respond quickly to any request, which helps your housing element be sorted out without delay. Good record-keeping is one of the simplest ways to keep your claim running smoothly through a move.
Tell your old and new councils
As well as updating Universal Credit, remember to tell your old council that you have moved out, so your old council tax account is closed correctly, and your new council that you have moved in, so a new account is set up and any reduction can be claimed. Sorting out council tax in both areas avoids unexpected bills landing later, and makes sure you are not chased for tax on a home you no longer live in.
In short
When you move home on Universal Credit, report the change through your journal as soon as you can, give your new rent and landlord details, and check your housing element will cover the rent before you commit. Make a fresh Council Tax Reduction claim to your new council, and look into help with moving costs if you need it.
Plan the move in good time
Where you can, give yourself time before the move to sort out the benefits side, rather than leaving it until the day itself when there is a great deal else to think about. The smoothest moves on Universal Credit are the ones planned in advance: knowing your new rent, checking it will be covered, lining up help with the costs, and being ready to report the change as soon as it happens. A little preparation avoids gaps in your rent and unexpected bills, so treat the benefits side of a move as carefully as the packing itself, and get advice early if anything about your new tenancy is unclear or you are worried about how you will cover the costs.
Where to get help
Citizens Advice and your council can help you manage a move on benefits. See our guides to the Universal Credit housing element, Local Housing Allowance and Discretionary Housing Payments.