Change in Circumstances

Your tenant must tell us straightaway when their circumstances change so we can make sure they get the right amount of benefit and stop any overpayments.

Although the responsibility to report a change lies with your tenant, if you are aware of a change that may affect your tenant's housing benefit you should inform us. If you receive direct payment of benefit it is your duty to report any known change of circumstances that could affect your tenant's claim.

Examples of changes that should be reported include: -

Changes in your tenant's income or anyone else's in their household. This applies whether they are receiving more or less income or the type of income has changed. So for example, they must tell us if anyone in the household starts or stops work or has a pay rise; starts or stops receiving Income Support, income-based Jobseekers Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or starts or stops receiving another benefit.
Your tenant should tell us about any changes in the amount of money or savings they, or their partner have, including changes in ownership of property.
We need to know if anyone moves into or leaves your tenants' home even if they move to a new flat or bedsit in the same building. We also need to know if your tenant starts or stops being a joint-tenant with anyone or they have any changes in rent.
If you as the landlord carry out any alterations or sell the property, change managing agents, or change your contact address and telephone number we need to be advised straightaway.
If a dependant child leaves school.

All changes should be reported within 1 calendar month otherwise your tenant could lose benefit.

Further information on the changes to report and how to report a change is contained in the page Reporting a Change.

Change of address

If your tenant moves to another private rented property Housing Benefit will be worked out under the Local Housing Allowance rules. The new rules affect the maximum rent we use to work out housing benefit and the payment of benefit.

A change of address must be reported to us immediately. This includes a move from one bedsit or flat to another in the same building. If your tenant is on housing benefit and moves to another private rented property or Registered Social Landlord property within the Stockton area, they should complete the Tenants Change of Address Form (COA3).

If your tenant moves to a property they own they should complete the Change of Address Statement.

We can usually only pay Housing Benefit up to the date your tenant has moved out of their home, even if you have charged your tenant rent after that date. However it is possible in exceptional circumstances to pay benefit on 2 properties up to a maximum of 4 weeks. Please refer to our Benefit on Two Homes article for more details and a form for your tenant to complete if appropriate.