Get help with rent
You could get help with:
paying rent to a private landlord
For example, rent in advance or a deposit.
Table: Overview of help
| Type of help and how to apply | Who can apply for help |
|---|---|
| Universal credit - apply on GOV.UK | Working age people |
| Housing benefit - from your council | Pension age people or people living in a hostel |
| Discretionary housing payments - from your council | Renters who get universal credit or housing benefit |
| Emergency grants or loans - from a charity, your council or the DWP | People who cannot afford food, energy bills or other important items |
Universal credit
You could get universal credit (UC) if you have a low income.
It has a housing element to help with rent.
UC is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
You normally wait at least 5 weeks for your first payment.
You could get a UC advance while you wait. This is a DWP loan that you have to pay back. Your UC payments are lower while you pay it back.
Find out more about universal credit.
Housing benefit
You can only apply for housing benefit to help with rent if either:
Housing benefit is paid by your local council.
You could also get UC to help with your other living costs if you are working age.
You could get pension credit if you are pension age.
Use the calculator on the Policy in Practice website to check what benefits you can get.
Discretionary housing payments (DHPs)
DHPs are extra money from your council to help with rent.
You do not have to pay DHPs back. They do not affect your other benefits.
You need to get universal credit or housing benefit to apply for DHPs.
Contact the DHP team at your council
What is your location?
Easy read advice if you have a learning disability
Mencap has easy read advice on discretionary housing payments.
Household support fund
You could get help with other living costs from your council's household support fund.
This can help free up more of your other income for rent.
The household support fund can help with things like:
energy bills
water bills
food
Ask your council about help from the scheme.
Find out about other emergency grants, loans and money help.
Grants from charities
Some charities have grants if you are struggling. You do not have to pay these back.
Use the Turn2Us grants search to find money you could apply for.
Avoid payday loans and doorstep lenders
These types of loans are expensive and often make your debt worse.
Doorstep lenders must be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
It's illegal for someone who is not FCA regulated to charge you for borrowing money. They are known as 'loan sharks'.
StepChange debt charity has advice on:
Rent going up or missed a rent payment?
Last updated: 7 January 2025
