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When everyone has a home

Housing advice for Northern Ireland

Housing benefits for private tenants

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

Lots of people are struggling to manage with housing issues because of the coronavirus crisis. Check out our Coronavirus section for information and advice on common problems, including help to pay your rent and mortgage, eviction and repairs.

If you are on a low income, you may be entitled to benefits to help you pay your rent.  For most people who rent privately, the amount of help they will get towards rent is worked out under a system called Local Housing Allowance. The amount of benefit you receive under the Local Housing Allowance rules depends on your circumstances and not on the actual rent for the property in which you live.

If you started receiving housing benefit to pay for your rented home before April 2008 and have not had a break in your claim since then, your entitlement to housing benefit is worked out under a different set of rules and you should speak to an adviser if you are having a problem with your benefits. 

 

Help with housing for private tenants

A set of rules is used to work out how much help private tenants can get with their rent. These rules are known as Local Housing Allowance and are used by Universal Credit and Housing Benefit.  The LHA rules have been used since April 2008. Almost all private tenants have their rent help worked out under this system, but there are a few exceptions. 

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Who can claim housing benefit

If you don't already get Housing Benefit, you can only make a new claim for it if you get a Severe Disability Premium as part of your other benefits or if you are over pension age. You also need to have a responsibility to pay rent or rates. If you can't apply for Housing Benefit, you may be able to get help to pay your rent by applying for Universal Credit.  

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How much will benefits give towards your rent if you rent privately?

The amount of benefits you will get depends on your personal circumstances, such as your income and savings, the size of your household and the area you live/wish to live in.

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Applying for help with your rent

You should apply for help to pay your rent if you are on a low income or are struggling. For most people this means claiming Universal Credit, but you may still be able to claim Housing Benefit if you are a pensioner or if you get a severe disability premium in your other benefits. 

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Payments of benefits to help with rent

Your Universal Credit is normally paid directly to your landlord, but you can ask for it to be paid to you instead. If you get Housing Benefit, you can choose whether you want the money paid to you, to the landlord or to the estate agent. 

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Help if your benefits don't cover your full rent

Private tenants can apply for extra housing benefit if the amount they are getting doesn't cover their rent. This is known as a discretionary housing payment. The Housing Executive decides whether you are entitled to extra benefit and how much you should get.

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Housing benefit for single people

The amount of housing benefit that is paid to single people aged under 35 who rent privately is often restricted. There are some exemptions that apply.

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Video guide to Housing Benefit for private tenants

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