Rent arrears in a private tenancy
Get help with rent and energy bills
You could get:
universal credit if you're working age
housing benefit if you're pension age
You could get these benefits if you are in work or not working, if you have a low income.
You might also be able to get other benefits or money help. For example, council tax support or disability benefits.
A benefits adviser can help you check benefits and other money help you could get.
Find out where to get benefits advice.
Check you are getting everything that you should be.
Discretionary housing payments (DHP)
You can apply for DHPs from your council if you get universal credit or housing benefit.
DHPs can help if your benefits do not cover all your rent.
You normally get a DHP for a set period of time, like a year. The council looks at your claim again after this. Check if you need to apply again each year.
Find out more about DHPs.
Contact your council's discretionary housing payments team
What is your location?
Easy read advice if you have a learning disability
Mencap has easy read advice on DHPs.
Help with energy bills
Talk to your energy supplier straight away if you're struggling to pay your energy bills.
Many gas and electricity companies have grants or funds they can use to help you pay off energy debts or if you're finding it hard to pay your bills.
Ask if they can move you to a cheaper energy deal or help you get debt advice from a charity.
You can also ask your council for help from the household support fund if you're struggling with energy bills.
Find out about other help with energy bills.
Find emergency grants, loans and money help for things like food, rent and bills, deposits and moving home.
Deal with deductions from your benefits
Your landlord might ask for money to be taken from your universal credit if you owe at least 2 months' rent.
The DWP takes the money off your monthly payment and gives it to your landlord to pay back the arrears.
Table: Monthly deductions for rent arrears
This table shows the highest and lowest amounts that can be taken for rent arrears each month. Amounts are rounded to the nearest pound.
| Claim type | Highest | Lowest |
|---|---|---|
| Single person under 25 | £62 | £31 |
| Single person aged 25 or over | £79 | £39 |
| Couple - both under 25 | £98 | £49 |
| Couple - either person 25 or over | £124 | £62 |
You can ask the DWP to take less money from your universal credit each month if they are taking more than the lowest amount.
Example: Asking the DWP to take less money
Mel is 45 and single.
The DWP take £50 a month out of her universal credit to pay off rent arrears.
The lowest amount the DWP could take is £39 a month.
Mel can ask the DWP to only take £39 a month so she has more money for food and other living costs.
Call the universal credit helpline on 0800 328 5644 if your deductions are only for rent arrears.
If you have other money taken, for example for benefit or tax credit overpayments, call DWP debt management on 0800 916 0647 instead.
Find out more about dealing with universal credit deductions.
Money taken from other benefits to pay rent arrears
The DWP can take money from other benefits, such as pension credit or employment support allowance (ESA) to pay off rent arrears.
The most that can be taken from these benefits is £4.55 a week.
The money is paid straight to your landlord.
You or your landlord can ask for the money to be paid straight to them if you owe at least 4 weeks' rent, and the arrears have built up over at least 8 weeks.
You can ask for your housing element to go direct to your landlord if you miss rent payments or find it hard to budget on universal credit.
Last updated: 8 July 2024
