If you're on a low income and need financial help to pay all or part of your rent, you may be able to get Housing Benefit.
If you're a private tenant renting property or a room from a private landlord and you're on a low income - you may be able to get Local Housing Allowance (LHA).
Who is eligible
You may get Housing Benefit if you pay rent and your income and capital (savings and investments) are below a certain level.
Who isn't eligible
You can't usually get Housing Benefit if:
- you have savings of over £16,000, unless you are aged 60 or over and getting the 'guarantee credit' of Pension Credit
- you live in the home of a close relative
- you're a full-time student - unless you're disabled or have children
- you're an asylum seeker or are sponsored to be in the UK
Other restrictions
If you live with a partner or civil partner only one of you can get Housing Benefit.
If you're single and aged under 25 you can only get Housing Benefit for bed-sit accommodation or one room in shared accommodation.
How much you get
The most Housing Benefit you can get is the same as your 'eligible' rent.
This is the amount used to work out your benefit but may not be the same as your full rent.
What is 'eligible' rent?
Eligible rent includes:
- rent for the accommodation
- charges for some services, such as a lifts, communal laundry facilities or play areas
Even if it's included in your rent, you won't get any Housing Benefit for:
- water charges
- charges for heating, hot water, lighting, or cooking
- payments for food or fuel in board and lodgings or hostels
The amount of Housing Benefit you may get also depends on:
Your personal and financial circumstances
Your local council will look at:
- money you and your partner or civil partner have coming in, including earnings, some benefits and tax credits, and occupational pensions
- your savings (and your partner's or civil partner's savings)
- your circumstances: such as your age, the size of your family and their ages, whether you or any of your family are disabled, and whether anyone who lives with you could help with the rent
The particulars of your home and the rent you pay
Your council will also look at whether:
- the amount of rent is reasonable for your particular home
- your home is a reasonable size for you and your family
- the amount of rent is reasonable for the area where you live
Your 'eligible' rent may be limited to an amount that's reasonable for a suitably sized property in the area you live.
Effect on benefits
Housing Benefit won't affect any other benefits you get.
How it's paid
If you are a council tenant, we will pay any Housing Benefit straight into your rent account.
If you're not a council tenant you can choose to have your Housing Benefit paid:
- directly to your landlord
- to you by cheque
- by direct payment into your bank or building society account
How to claim
You're assessed for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit at the same time. Visit the How to claim page for more information
What to do if you don't have a formal tenancy agreement
If you don’t have a formal tenancy agreement or a rent book we will need your landlord to complete the tenancy declaration form. This will provide us with information on:
- Name and address of your landlord
- The date that your tenancy began
- How much your rent is
- How often you pay your rent: weekly, monthly or 4 weekly
- Name and address of the owner of the property