Can my client claim HB and UC Housing costs while in process of moving property?

Hi

I have a client on ESA in the support group with an SDP and enhanced rates of daily living and mobility of PIP. She is moving property due to harassment. She is moving local authority so will need to claim UC for the housing costs. She has had to give notice to quit her current property. Her new tenancy started on 15/8/24 and old tenancy ends on 2/9/2024 so she is liable for the rent and council tax on both properties. Any advice you could offer with regards to whether she can claim for both properties and dual CT liability would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

In principle, she can be treated as occupying the old address under the HB Regs if the overlap cannot reasonably be avoided.  UC won’t treat her as occupying two homes, but she doesn’t need it to: she only wants to claim UC for the new home she actually does occupy.

However, HB will terminate two weeks after UC starts and that seems to me to trump the usual “two homes” rules in HB, in effect limiting the overlap to two weeks.

She cannot be liable for Council Tax as a resident in two places - she might be liable as the absent owner for the notice period on the old home, but that isn’t eligible for CTR.

Thank you so much for your response it has been most helpful!

Have they spoken to their housing officer about accepting reduced notice or early surrender?