diff --git a/app/helpers/collection_time_helper.rb b/app/helpers/collection_time_helper.rb
index 34426bab2..ea7601c70 100644
--- a/app/helpers/collection_time_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/collection_time_helper.rb
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ module CollectionTimeHelper
   end
 
   def date_mid_collection_year_formatted(date)
-    example_date = date.nil? ? Time.zone.today : collection_start_date(date).to_date + 5.months
+    relevant_year = date.nil? ? current_collection_start_year : collection_start_year_for_date(date)
+    example_date = Date.new(relevant_year, 9, 13)
     example_date.to_formatted_s(:govuk_date_number_month)
   end
 
diff --git a/app/views/form/_date_question.html.erb b/app/views/form/_date_question.html.erb
index c84d60d0e..9de5b8f2d 100644
--- a/app/views/form/_date_question.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/form/_date_question.html.erb
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 <%= f.govuk_date_field question.id.to_sym,
   caption: caption(caption_text, page_header, conditional),
   legend: legend(question, page_header, conditional),
-  hint: { text: question.hint_text&.html_safe || "For example, #{date_mid_collection_year_formatted(lettings_log.startdate)}" },
+  hint: { text: (question.hint_text.nil? ? "" : (question.hint_text.html_safe + "</br></br>".html_safe)) + "For example, #{date_mid_collection_year_formatted(lettings_log.startdate)}" },
   width: 20,
   **stimulus_html_attributes(question) do %>
   <%= govuk_inset_text(text: question.unresolved_hint_text) if question.unresolved_hint_text.present? && @log.unresolved %>
diff --git a/spec/helpers/collection_time_helper_spec.rb b/spec/helpers/collection_time_helper_spec.rb
index e9ec52292..3eef01b5e 100644
--- a/spec/helpers/collection_time_helper_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/helpers/collection_time_helper_spec.rb
@@ -85,9 +85,9 @@ RSpec.describe CollectionTimeHelper do
     context "when called with nil" do
       let(:input) { nil }
 
-      it "returns the current date" do
-        today = Time.zone.today
-        expect(result).to eq("#{today.day} #{today.month} #{today.year}")
+      it "returns the 13th of September in the current collection year" do
+        year = current_collection_start_year
+        expect(result).to eq("13 9 #{year}")
       end
     end
 
@@ -95,8 +95,8 @@ RSpec.describe CollectionTimeHelper do
       calendar_year = 2030
       let(:input) { Date.new(calendar_year, 7, 7) }
 
-      it "returns the first of September from that year" do
-        expect(result).to eq("1 9 #{calendar_year}")
+      it "returns the 13th of September from that year" do
+        expect(result).to eq("13 9 #{calendar_year}")
       end
     end
 
@@ -104,8 +104,8 @@ RSpec.describe CollectionTimeHelper do
       calendar_year = 2040
       let(:input) { Date.new(calendar_year, 2, 7) }
 
-      it "returns the first of September from the previous year" do
-        expect(result).to eq("1 9 #{calendar_year - 1}")
+      it "returns the 13th of September from the previous year" do
+        expect(result).to eq("13 9 #{calendar_year - 1}")
       end
     end
   end