You can get help with your housing costs if you are eligible for Universal Credit. Your housing payment can help with the payment of:
Rent to a private landlord
- Your rent and some service charges if you rent from a housing association or local authority
- Interest payments on your mortgage and some service charges.
- If your housing payment does not cover all your housing costs you might be eligible to apply to the Local Authority for a Discretionary Housing Payment. For more information on Discretionary Housing Payment’s please visit the https://www.gosport.gov.uk/article/1132/Discretionary-Payments#:~:text=Discretionary%20Housing%20Payment%20and%20Discretionary,Housing%20Element%2C%20Council%20Tax%20Support.
- In addition to the above you might also be eligible for a Council Tax Reduction or other financial help through Universal Credit. You can claim for housing costs if you already have a Universal Credit claim by using the online tool on your account.
Help with a deposit or guarantee when moving into the private sector
The Local Authority may be able to help you with its own rent deposit, bond, or guarantee scheme. These are usually provided to individuals at risk of homelessness who have an urgent need to move and would find it difficult to afford the costs associated with such a move. Schemes vary but they can provide:
- Cash to help with a deposit and rent in advance
- A written guarantee that the scheme will cover unpaid rent to a certain amount
- A checking service to see whether you might be eligible