Private rented housing

If you’re on a low income, whether you’re working or not, and need financial help to pay all or part of your rent, you may be able to get housing benefit/the housing element of universal credit. If you are renting a property or room from a private landlord, the local housing allowance is used to work out how much benefit you will get.

The most local housing allowance you can get is the same as your eligible rent. Eligible rent includes:

• rent for the accommodation
• charges for some services, such as lifts, communal laundry facilities or play areas.

Even if it’s included in your rent, you won’t get any money to cover:

• water charges
• charges for heating, hot water, lighting, or cooking
• payments for food or fuel in board and lodgings or hostels.

The amount you may will also depend on members of your household, as well as you/your partner's personal and financial circumstances. Visit our benefits section to find out more - we also recommend you use our benefits calculator to find out how much you may get, before you look for a property.

The payment will normally be made straight to your bank or building society account. If you are worried about managing your money, you can ask us to pay your it to your landlord directly. If you don’t pay your rent, you may be taken to court and evicted from the property.

Need a rent deposit?

If you are threatened with homelessness and have found alternative accommodation but require help with a deposit and/or rent in advance, contact our Housing Options Team at housing@lichfielddc.gov.uk. They operate a loan scheme in conjunction with Fusion Credit Union, which can be used to prevent homelessness in some instances. Alternatively, if you are in receipt of Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit, you may be entitled to a Discretionary Housing Payment through the Housing Benefit Team here at the Council, ( see the section on our Website that explains what this payment can cover and how to apply).

We cannot provide loans or Discretionary Housing Payments for rent in advance required for Housing Associations, most of whom have a form of easy payment scheme.