Help with Rent and Tenancy
Housing Element of Universal Credit
If you receive Universal Credit, you may be entitled to help with your rent through the Housing Element.
This payment is designed to cover some or all of your rent and is usually paid directly to you as part of your UC payment each month. You are then responsible for paying your rent to us on time.
Absent Joint Tenants (Untidy Tenancy)
If more than one person is named on your tenancy and one tenant has moved out, this is called an untidy tenancy.
The tenancy agreement remains in joint names until one person formally ends their part of it.
This means:
Both tenants remain responsible for the full rent and any arrears, even if one person no longer lives in the property.
Any benefits or UC payments may be affected if your circumstances change.
If your joint tenant has moved out permanently, contact us as soon as possible so we can advise you on next steps and help update your tenancy records.
Bedroom Tax
If you rent a home through a housing association or local authority and you’re of working age, your Housing Element may be reduced if you have more bedrooms than you’re considered to need.
This is often called the “bedroom tax.”
The amount your benefit is reduced depends on how many spare bedrooms you have:
14% reduction for one extra bedroom
25% reduction for two or more extra bedrooms
If you believe you need the extra bedroom (for example, for medical reasons, caring responsibilities, or because of shared custody arrangements), please let us know. We can help you apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) or check if an exemption applies.
Non-Dependant Deductions
If someone aged 18 or over lives with you who is not your partner or dependent child (for example, an adult son or daughter, friend, or relative), your Housing Element or Housing Benefit may be reduced.
This is called a non-dependant deduction.
The government assumes that non-dependants should contribute towards the household rent. The amount deducted depends on their income and circumstances.
If your non-dependant isn’t working, is a student, or receives certain benefits, they might be exempt from deductions. Please contact us or your benefits adviser if you’re unsure how this affects you.
HomeSwapper
HomeSwapper is a national mutual exchange service that helps tenants swap homes with others across the UK.
It’s free for our tenants to use and is a great way to:
Move to a different area
Find a home that better suits your needs (for example, more or fewer bedrooms)
Be closer to work, family, or support networks
You can register at www.homeswapper.co.uk and start looking for potential swaps straight away. Once you find a match, both landlords will need to give permission before a move can take place.