What Help Can I Get With My Rent?
If paying your rent is becoming difficult, it is worth checking what help is available before arrears build up.
If paying your rent is becoming difficult, it is worth checking what help is available before arrears build up.
The support you can get depends on your income, age, tenancy, benefits and where you live. There may be more than one route to explore.
How can benefits help with rent?
Universal Credit can include an amount towards eligible housing costs. Housing Benefit still applies to some people, including many people who have reached State Pension age and people in certain supported, sheltered or temporary accommodation.
Neither system necessarily pays your full contractual rent. The amount can be affected by matters such as eligible rent, household circumstances and the rules applying to your accommodation.
What if there is still a shortfall?
If your housing support does not cover your rent, look at the reason for the gap rather than assuming nothing else can be done.
In England, councils can make Housing Payments through the Crisis and Resilience Fund for some people who receive Housing Benefit or Universal Credit housing costs and need further help with housing costs. These replaced Discretionary Housing Payments in England from April 2026. Wales continues to operate DHPs, and arrangements differ elsewhere in the UK.
A Housing Payment is discretionary. It can potentially help with matters such as a rent shortfall and, in some circumstances, rent arrears, deposits, rent in advance or costs connected with moving. Your council decides applications under its scheme.
What should I do if I am already falling behind?
Treat rent arrears as a priority. Serious arrears can put your tenancy at risk.
Open letters from your landlord, check the balance on your rent account and contact the landlord rather than waiting for the problem to grow. If you cannot afford the amount being requested, explain that and get free housing or debt advice before agreeing to a repayment you cannot maintain.
Check whether your income can be increased
A benefits check can identify support you may be missing. If your income has fallen because of illness, caring, redundancy or another change, there may be other benefits or help with household costs worth checking too.
MH360 Entitled can be used as a route into checking potential benefit entitlement, while individual benefit decisions should be checked against current official rules.
What information should I gather?
Have your tenancy agreement, current rent, rent statement, benefit award information, income, essential household spending and details of any arrears available. This makes it easier for a council or adviser to understand the problem.
If you are worried about losing your home, have received possession paperwork or do not understand a notice, get specialist housing advice promptly.
7.47: I’m Behind With My Rent
18.18: I’m Worried About Paying My Rent or Mortgage
18.19: I’m Worried About Losing My Home or Becoming Homeless, Where Can I Get Help?
Important information
This guide provides general information and is not intended to provide financial, benefits, debt, housing or legal advice. Individual circumstances can be different. Check current information from official sources and seek advice from an appropriately qualified or authorised adviser before making important financial decisions.