Rents and Housing Benefit

Where you rent accommodation you need to ensure you can pay your rent. You may be able to claim Housing Benefit to help pay your rent. This is a special form of benefit administered by the Council.

Claiming and maintaining a claim for housing benefit is a complicated process. You need an address before you can claim housing benefit but before moving into rented property or prior to entering into an agreement to rent accommodation it is important to determine if you can afford that accommodation available to you.

If you are likely to need housing benefit to help toward paying a rent you can seek advice on finding out how much housing benefit you might receive.
Go to the Directory for Private Sector Tenants and Landlords page (see Related links at the bottom of this page) for contact details on local and national agencies that can provide advice.

Who can claim housing benefit?

You can claim housing benefit if you are liable to pay rent and claim state benefit such as Job Seekers Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, and retirement pension. You can also claim housing benefit if you are working but have a low income. You can claim housing benefit even if you are working full-time or even if you receive tax credits.

Is everyone able to claim housing benefit?

No, some people are not eligible for public funds such as housing benefit. These people include a claimant whom:

Is not a British Citizen and/or does not have full rights to live here because of immigration status
Is not considered to be habitually resident in the UK

If you have any concerns about your eligibility for housing benefit it is important you seek advice on this issue prior to any claim for state benefits being made.

Where do I claim Housing Benefit?

You will need to visit or telephone the Council’s Housing & Council Tax Benefit Office for a claim form.
Their office can be contacted at:

       Housing & Council Tax Benefit Office
       Guildhall 2
       St James Road
       Kingston
       KT1 1EU

Or phone: 020 8547 5198
E-mail: hsngben@rbk.kingston.gov.uk

When does my claim for housing benefit start?

Entitlement to housing benefit starts on the Monday following receipt of a claim form in the Housing Benefit Office.

To secure housing benefit you do need to make a claim and provide additional information but where you do not have all the information needed to assess a claim, to avoid the loss of benefit for a period of time, provide the Housing Benefit Office with your claim form and then provide their office with the information needed to assess a claim.

What information is needed to assess a claim for housing benefit?

If you do not provide all the evidence need a claim might not be assessed.

You will need to provide:

Evidence of identity
Evidence of National Insurance Number
Evidence of Capital Savings & Investments
Evidence of Earnings
Evidence of other income
Evidence of benefits, allowances and pensions
Evidence of private rent and tenancy
Evidence of other monies paid out

The Housing Benefit Office will not accept copies of the above infroamtion but are required to see original documents. If you do not have the above seek advice from one of the local advice agencies. The above information must be provided within four weeks of a claim being made but if you need additional time contact the Housing Benefit Office and seek help and advice from one of the local advice agencies.

How much will I receive?

The amount of benefit you will be entitled to depends on your circumstances, this includes:

your household’s income; wages, benefit, maintenance and the income of any adult children living with you in your accommodation
your household composition
any savings or capital
your eligible rent

What is my ‘eligible rent’?

This is the figure of rent used in calculating housing benefit entitlement. It is often lower than the actual rent charged by a landlord and is determined by the Rent officer Service

What is the Rent Officer Service?

The Rent Service is an Executive Agency of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. They determine the level of rent eligible for benefit for private tenants, landlords and letting agents and set rents for Regulated tenancies.

The Rent Service
2nd Floor
Tuition House
27-37 St Georges Road
WIMBLEDON
SW19 4EU

Phone: 020 8408 5700
Open: Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm

The Rent Service can determine the level of rent eligible for benefit before a tenancy is entered into. This is helpful because with this information you can seek advice form a local advice agency about your potential entitlement to housing benefit and the affordability of a home before agreeing to a tenancy.

What is a Pre Tenancy Determination?
This is the request form the Rent Officer Service requires to be completed and returned to them before they will determine the level of rent ‘eligible’ for benefit at a property.

These forms are available at the Housing Benefit Office and Housing Advice Service. When completed these forms should be returned to the Housing Benefit Office (not the Rent Officer Service). The Rent Officer Service will then make a determination and advise you of the level of rent ‘eligible’ for benefit. Please note the Rent Officer’s determination is not the actual amount of housing benefit you will receive. For advice on this you can speak to one of the local advice agencies - refer to the Directory for Private Sector Tenants and Landlords link.

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Housing Advice have produced a booklet on Housing Benefit which answers questions you may have on Housing Benefit - you can download it in pdf format from this page - see Related Documents below or printed copies are available from the Housing Advice Service, Guildhall One, Kingston.

Also see:

Directory for Private Sector Tenants and Landlords