Housing costs and Universal Credit
Renting from the local authority or housing association
If you’re eligible for Universal Credit you can get help paying your rent and some service charges.
You usually get the extra amount for housing in your Universal Credit payment and have to pay it to your landlord.
You can also get help with your bills from your main Universal Credit payment
If you live in a shared ownership property, you could get Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) as well.
You might also be able to get a Council Tax Reduction.
Paying service charges
Universal Credit can help you pay for some service charges, including:
- using shared facilities, such as rubbish collection or communal lifts
- using essential items in your home, such as domestic appliances
- window cleaning of upper floors
If you live with someone who is 21 or older and is not your partner
The amount of money you get for housing will usually be reduced if you live with someone who is aged 21 or older and not your partner.
The amount will not be reduced if you’re any of the following:
- getting the care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) at the middle or highest rate
- getting the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- getting Attendance Allowance
- getting Armed Forces Independence Payment
- registered as blind
It also will not be reduced if the person aged 21 or older is any of the following:
- getting Pension Credit
- getting the care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) at the middle or highest rate
- getting the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- getting Attendance Allowance
- getting Armed Forces Independence Payment
- getting Carer’s Allowance
- getting Carer Support Payment
- responsible for a child under 5
- a member of the armed forces away on operations, and is your child or step-child
- your sub-tenant, lodger or boarder
- a prisoner
If you pay rent on 2 homes
You can claim for rent on 2 homes at the same time if either of the following apply:
- the housing authority has housed your family in 2 properties because your family is large
- you have moved out because of fear of violence or abuse, are paying rent somewhere else, and intend to come back
- you’ve started renting a new home with a disabled family member but it has not been adapted to their needs yet
If you have more rooms than your household needs
The amount of money you get for housing can be reduced if you have more rooms than you need. This is called ‘removal of the spare room subsidy’.
The amount will be reduced:
- by 14% if you have 1 spare bedroom
- by 25% if you have 2 or more spare bedrooms
If you’re behind on your rent
If you’re behind on your rent, the money you get for housing can be sent directly to your landlord. This is called an alternative payment arrangement (APA).
You can apply for an APA through your work coach or case manager. Your landlord can also apply.
If the money you get for housing does not cover all your rent
The extra amount of money you get for housing will not always cover your rent. You might need to pay the rest of your rent from your Universal Credit payment or other income.
You might be able to get extra help from your local council with your rent and other housing costs, for example a rent deposit or moving costs. This is called a ‘Discretionary Housing Payment’.
To apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment, contact your local council.