Local Housing Allowance/Housing Benefit Overlap Rules when Moving from Private to Council Housing??

[Sleepless123]

Sorry i feel all ive done in the past week is make threads on here but im now in a panic about something totally diffierent.

i have been on the council housing list for the past year.Well actually i had another application with the same council for a year a half before that while i lived elsewhere but we wont go there....

Anyway after i got my Guide Dog in March Guide Dogs worked with me to ask the council to increase my priority on their list as before i had the dog i was classed as adequately housed [having found private renting myself to move nearer my family again after living in another area for some time - my fault] but the flat i have does not really have an adequate toileting area for the dog - she has to use a small area of gravel at the front of the property and can be seen toileting by passing traffic which also puts her off [and she was already known to have toileting difficulties at the best of times].

They increased my prioriy to high eventually with high medical neeed.But there is much shortage of one bedroom properties with an enclosed garden in my area [obvoiously flats do not generally have enclosed self contained gardens and are generally unsuitable] or rather they are in very high demand and many i cant show an interest in as they are only let by the council to over 60s.The council put properties on a website each week but i had to wait nearly six months before a one bedroom property even came up locally that would be suitable for a Guiide Dog that i was allowed to show an interest in with my age.

Anyway i showed an interest but despite this and having been rated as high priority with high medical need i still compariatvely ended up down the list.

i called the council and spoke to a Senior Housing Officer id spoken with before and she was also concerned so rang the Housing Association concerned to find out why.They confirmed it was cos of the demand for housing at the moment especially this type of property.

The council then suggested i get Guide Dogs to write a much stronger letter [and also they then spoke to Guide Dogs themselves] or said i could be waiting a very long time given the situation despite my high priority status.They said they needed a stronger letter so they could try and class my case as an emergency so that when a suitable property did next come up i might have a chance of getting it.

Anyway im not sure what Guide Dogs wrote in the end but today i had a call from the local Housing Association who deals with some of the council based tenancies for social housing here to say they think they may have a property for us [one i had expressed an interest in a few weeks ago but didnt think i had a chance of getting after what happened with the first one] and asking to do a verification visit and viewing tomorrow.

i am happy cos though i have a lot going on right now and am not sure how things will turn out [see other threads] and im worried moving could be stressful i think if the property is right it could be better for me and the Guide Dog and its not very far from where we currently are which would make things so much easier for both of us than being placed in a totally unfamiliar area in the town.

Guide Dogs are now coming with me to the viewing tomorrow to also assess if they think the property especially garden area is more suitable for the dog and if they think it is acceptable for us to be there.

But i am panicking and the mian reason i am writing is because i am currently in private housing and four weeks notice is required by the landlord.But the council say they already have the keys back for their property and would be looking for me to move in maybe next week or the week after - they are very keen to get someone in there.

When i pointed out i had to give the four weeks notice to the private landlord they said yes but housing benefit should puy an overlap so you shouldnt be out of pocket.

i know there is the four week overlap rule for housing benefit but i thought that only applied if it was an emergency and/or the overlap could not be prevented?Im also not sure if it applies if you are moving from Local Housing Allowance [ie privately rented accommodation] to social housing and therefore Housing Benefit.Does anyone know this?

Can you claim for two homes in these circumstances or not?The Housing Association seemed to think you could and not a problem?

So im really grateful but im not so sure.Not to mention the difficulties i could also have with practicalities trying to move quite that quickly especially with sight diffculties.....

Has anyone else moved from private rented accommodation to social/council housing and also found themselves in this situation where the council wanted a quick move?What happened with benefits and notice etc?

im slightly panicked and any advice on the benefits situation would be appreciated.

Sorry for rambling and taking up another thread.Thanks.

xx

[Tig]

I have moved from a different council to a local housing project so it wasn't quite private rent but it wasn't the same people running it either.

They are right; there shouldn't be a problem with housing benefit. At first it looked like I would have to be quickly as well so I was quite concerned although in the end it was only a week's overlap so I managed to pay that. I think you should contact housing benefit and ask them - I think there is a form and you need to state the reason why.

Is this something your CPN would help you with if needs be, or GP?

Best of luck with the move x

[Sleepless123]

Thanks for the reply and re-assurance.

Um seen the property, they are thinking of asking me to move in Friday 24th August.

A week and a half away....erm........

[Bleeding Angel]

You are better off speaking to citizens advice as they will be able to help and give you the right advice.

[Sleepless123]

Thanks Bleeding Angel.

Yep had crossed my mind.

Just they arent great where i live.Very limited opening times then you have to go through 'gateway' before getting a future appointment set up.And you can never get through on the phone.They just always seem understaffed and in demand of course.Neither of which is their fault.i know they do a brill job in general.ive used them before in other areas and had really good experiences.

i will still try them.i spoke to housing benefit by phone this afternoon and they seemed to think it should be covered but im always cautious.

Um the council want me to move in next Friday....good but panicking.

[random.swirls]

I moved from temporary accomodatation to permanent accomodation and they gave me less than a week to move which just wasn't possible as their was no carpet or paint etc. so I needed to do that.

My care coordinator wrote a letter for me and that was enough for my council and I got an overlap but it isn't easy to get so do be aware.

This link talks about it in more detail http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_ad..._for_two_homes

[Sleepless123]

Thanks Random.Swirls and sorry its taken me so long to reply.

My new place doesnt have any carpet either so we are going to have to move all furniture when it is carpeted which could be difficult given my visual impairment.Hopefully my parents/others will help.

i rang the council about the overlap and then went into their building for advice.i was handed a form specfically designed for this purpose which surprised me a little [as i thought they wouldnt offer overlaps that much].

i havent heard anything back though and that was two or three weeks ago that i posted it by recorded delivery.i know it isnt easy to get but i wasnt given a choice on the3 move in date etc.Guess i can only hope for the best...

Thanks for the advice and sharing your experiences.

xx xx

[random.swirls]

I never heard back but I also never got chased for the money!!

[Sleepless123]

Quote:

Originally Posted by random.swirls

I never heard back but I also never got chased for the money!!

Thanks maybe theres still hope for me yet then!!