Worked examples
If you live in a housing association or council home and are assessed as having more bedrooms than your household needs, you will not receive housing benefit to cover all of your eligible rent.
The amount of housing benefit or the housing costs element of Universal Credit you receive will be reduced based on how many spare bedrooms you have.
How the reduction works
- If you have one spare bedroom: your eligible rent is reduced by 14%.
- If you have two or more spare bedrooms: your eligible rent is reduced by 25%.
Who decides how many bedrooms your home has?
Your landlord confirms how many bedrooms are in the property, in line with the rent charged. We apply the rules using that information and cannot change the landlord’s description.
Worked examples
Example a: One spare bedroom - 14% cut
- Weekly rent: £120
- Reduction: 14% of £120 = £16.80
- Housing benefit payable: £120 − £16.80 = £103.20 per week
- You must pay the shortfall: £16.80 per week.
Example b: Two spare bedrooms - 25% cut
- Weekly rent: £120
- Reduction: 25% of £120.00 = £30
- Housing benefit payable: £120 − £30 = £90.00 per week
- You must pay the shortfall: £30. per week.
Private renting in Lichfield District (LHA rules)
Local housing allowance (LHA) applies to private rents. LHA sets a maximum benefit based on your household size and the local LHA rate. It is not a 14% or 25% reduction. Instead, your benefit is capped at the LHA rate you qualify for - find out more.