Housing benefit – when to report changes to your rent
Every five to six years, the calendar makes it so we have 53 Mondays instead of the usual 52. This coming financial year, 2024 / 2025, is one of those special years.
If you get Universal Credit, the Department for Work and Pensions will only pay for 52 weeks of your rent in a year. In a 53 week financial year, this means there will be one week of rent that will not be covered by Universal Credit.
Find out what we're doing to help and what to do if you're affected and already struggling with the cost of living.
Tenants of Lewisham Homes and Phoenix Community Housing
There is no need to tell us about any increase in your annual rent. The Housing Benefit Department is automatically notified of the new amount of rent payable.
The new rent amount will be updated as long as:
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you have a live Housing Benefit claim.
Housing Association tenants
There is no need to tell us about any increase in your annual rent. The Housing Benefit Department is automatically notified of the new amount of rent payable.
The new rent amount will be updated as long as:
-
you have a live Housing Benefit claim
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and your rent is paid directly to your landlord.
Private tenants
You must tell the Housing Benefits Department about any change to your rent.