Disturbance and home loss payments

Secure tenants affected by plans to redevelop their home

If you are moving because the council has plans to redevelop your home, and you are a secure tenant, you may be able to claim certain allowances to help you.

If you have to leave your home temporarily

When we carry out major works to your home, we try to arrange them so you can remain in your property while the work is being carried out. If you do have to leave your home temporarily, you may be entitled to a disturbance payment.

If you need to leave your home permanently

If the council plans to redevelop your home, and you need to leave it permanently, you may be entitled to both a disturbance payment and a home loss payment.

What is a disturbance payment?

Secure tenants who have been awarded temporary or permanent decant status by the council may apply for a disturbance payment. A disturbance payment is there to help you with the costs of moving home. These costs include:

• paying removal firms
• disconnection and reconnection of fixed appliances (e.g. telephone, washing machine, cooker)
• reconnection and of the gas/electricity supply.

How to apply for a disturbance payment

1. Make sure that you keep all relevant receipts for your moving costs, so that you can support your claim.
2. Obtain an application form. You can either contact your local housing office to have a form posted to you, or you can download a Disturbance payment application form (PDF, 34K).
3. Complete the form and post or hand it to your local housing office, with all your receipts.
4. We will consider your claim, on the basis of the application form and the supporting receipts.
5. If we consider that your claim is valid, we will send a cheque to your new address.

What is a home loss payment?

Secure tenants who have been awarded permanent decant status by the council may apply for home loss payment. A home loss payment is a one-off compensation payment for secure tenants who are permanently displaced from their home by the council.

How to apply for a home loss payment

1. You need to take the appropriate steps to end your tenancy. We will not process your home loss payment until you have provided us with vacant possession of the property you are moving from
2. Hand in your keys to your old home. You will need to agree with your local housing office the date to hand in keys to your old property. (It is important that you hand your keys in as soon as possible after you leave so that we can arrange to have certain services, like the water supply, disconnected)
3. You should obtain a home loss application form. You can either contact your local housing office to have a form posted to you, or you can download a Homeloss payment application form (PDF, 20K)
4. Complete the form and post or hand it to your local housing office
5. If we consider that your claim is valid, we will send a cheque to your new address.

Other requirements for when you move

1. You must use a CORGI registered gas engineer to disconnect and reconnect gas appliances. Similarly, you must use a qualified electrician for all electrical work. This is for your own health and safety, and you can claim the costs for these as long as you have a valid receipt. If we are not satisfied with the qualifications of the gas engineer or electrician that you use, we will not refund your costs.
2. You must arrange for final readings to be taken of gas and electricity meters. You will probably need to give at least 48 hours notice to the gas and electricity companies.
3. If you are claiming any benefits, you must inform the benefits service of any change of address or circumstances. They will advise you if this change will affect your benefits. For more information see changes in circumstance during a claim.

Please note: any monies owed to the council will be deducted before forwarding payment to tenants, for example rent arrears, court costs, housing benefit overpayments.

Related services

For more information on leaseholders and decants please read our major works section in the council leaseholders pages.

Contact us & further information

For further information on the above, or any other issues you may have concerning your tenancy, please contact your local housing office.

Pid No: 126, 127, 132