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 where to apply | Who can apply for help |
|---|---|
| Universal credit - apply on GOV.UK | Working age people |
| Housing benefit - from your council | Pension age people and some people in temporary or supported housing |
| Housing payments - from your council | Renters who get the universal credit housing element or housing benefit |
| Crisis payments - from your council | People who need urgent money help |
| Grants and other money help - from your council or a charity | 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.
More on how to get 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.
Housing payments from your council
You could get extra money from your council to help with rent.
Housing payments used to be called discretionary housing payments (DHPs).
You do not have to pay housing payments back. They do not affect your other benefits.
You need to get the UC housing element or housing benefit to apply for housing payments.
Crisis payments from your council
You could get a crisis payment for any emergency need.
Ask your council about crisis payment help. It can help with things like:
food
rent payments
energy and water bills
unexpected costs like a broken boiler or car
You might not need to get benefits to get a crisis payment. It depends on the local scheme.
More on crisis payments.
Ask your council about housing or crisis payments
What is your location?
Housing payments and crisis payments are part of your council's crisis and resilience fund.
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:
Find out about other emergency grants, loans and money help.
Rent going up or missed a rent payment?
Last updated: 25 June 2026
