Housing costs element of universal credit
Guide for professionals
Bedroom entitlement and housing costs
The amount of housing costs a client can claim through universal credit (UC) is based on the number of bedrooms they qualify for.
Who is included in the bedroom count
The precise rules for calculating housing costs vary depending on whether your client is in social housing or renting privately. In all cases the amount your client can claim in housing costs is influenced by the number of bedrooms your client is entitled to. This is based on the number of people in the claimants household.
The bedroom count always includes your client, their partner if they have one, and their children. Where the children have more than one home, they will be counted as living with their primary carer.
The bedroom count also includes most other adults living with them. It does not include lodgers or any joint tenants that are not part of your client's household.
Bedroom entitlement
| Person or relationship | Bedroom allocation |
|---|---|
| Each adult couple | 1 |
| Adult (age 16+) | 1 |
| Two children under 10 (regardless of sex) | 1 shared |
| Two children under 16 of the same sex | 1 shared |
| Any child that does not fit the above rules | 1 |
Additional bedroom entitlement
There are circumstances where a claimant may be entitled to an additional bedroom. For example, where:
the claimant is a foster carer
a member of the claimant's household is on service with the Armed Forces and intends to return to the claimant's home
a member of the claimant's household is in prison and is not expected to remain in custody for longer than six months
Additional bedroom due to disability
A claimant may also be entitled to an additional bedroom where:
the claimant is disabled and requires a non-resident carer to provide overnight care
children or a couple cannot share a bedroom due to disability, but this exception has several restrictions
To qualify for an additional bedroom for a non-resident carer or because they cannot share a bedroom, the disabled person must be in receipt of one or more of:
care component of DLA at the higher or middle rate
attendance allowance (non-resident carer condition)/attendance allowance at the higher rate (can't share a bedroom condition)
daily living component of personal independence payment (PIP)
armed forces independence payment
Further information on bedroom entitlement
Members of the public can find out more about how many bedrooms they can claim for on Shelter's website.
Professionals can find out more about bedroom entitlement and when additional bedrooms are permitted on Shelter Legal.
Last updated: 29 January 2026