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Original poster

Will UC housing element also pay hot water and heating costs?

90 replies

Question8383 · 25/06/2024 17:32

Posting for traffic as I posted on the Property/DIY board but didn’t receive any comments. I’d really appreciate advice as I need to make a decision soon!

I’ve put in an offer for a rental property that’s been accepted by the Landlord. The Estate Agents called me today saying that the Landlord has only now revealed that they will be charging £200 a month to cover hot water and heating costs which will be on top of the monthly £1900 PCM rent. This will also be written into the tenancy agreement.

I told the EA to withdraw the offer because £2100 is way above my LHA which is £1944. The EA suggested to put in an offer for £1800 PCM and with the £200 additional charge, that will take the monthly total up to £2000. Now, here’s my question.

As the £200 charge will be written in my tenancy, will this also be covered by the housing element? Will I receive £1944 a month by UC and have to top it up by £56. Or will UC pay £1800 which is the official rent price and I’ll have to cover the £200 by myself? I’m struggling to find an answer on this so I’d be helpful to hear from those in the same situation and are on UC

OP posts:
CatsLikeBoxes · 25/06/2024 21:22

@sugarisbad
But what would the alternative be? If someone is out of work or on such a low income that they qualify for help with rent, of course benefits need to cover the cost of the housing that is considered reasonable in each area. The problem is surely more that rents are too high and wages for many are too low. Not that benefits cover the cost of people having a roof over their head.

sugarisbad · 25/06/2024 21:09

I am shocked by this -we both work full time and my husband takes home £1900 a month -goes to work at 5.30 every morning and we barely cover our rent from his wages as it's £1775 a month .
Is it really correct that benefits could cover this ?

vixen68 · 25/06/2024 20:58

no , UC is for rent only. If your rental agreement actually lists this cost in it you will be asked to get an agreement from LL showing the rental without it. And they do check …

Original poster
Question8383 · 25/06/2024 20:47

lateatwork · 25/06/2024 20:39

I'm sorry- but I don't know the answer to your question... But... I would check what happens if the amount goes up or down over the period you are in the property. Sometimes communal heating can be very very expensive and you don't want to get landed we an even bigger bill.

That’s a good point! Another thing to consider, thank you

OP posts:
TinyTornado · 25/06/2024 20:45

UC will not cover this.
i have part of the rent which is a management charge- not ‘rent’.
That is deducted from the total that UC consider the rent to be.

lateatwork · 25/06/2024 20:39

I'm sorry- but I don't know the answer to your question... But... I would check what happens if the amount goes up or down over the period you are in the property. Sometimes communal heating can be very very expensive and you don't want to get landed we an even bigger bill.

Original poster
Question8383 · 25/06/2024 20:38

sugarisbad · 25/06/2024 20:30

Have I just read this correctly -universal credit will pay nearly £2k a month for rent ??

You have read correctly, yes. It depends on your bedroom entitlement and what the Local Housing Allowance is for the private rentals in your area

OP posts:
sugarisbad · 25/06/2024 20:30

Have I just read this correctly -universal credit will pay nearly £2k a month for rent ??

LadyFeatheringt0n · 25/06/2024 19:16

Nastysting one of the drivers of damp issues in properties occupied by low income tenants is the property not being heated enough - its very common for people who are hard up to barely run heating.

NastySting · 25/06/2024 19:09

Are some of you never using your heating and hot water?
We pay £250pm for ours (3 bed terrace, 2 adults, 2 kids) and we are still in debt to the tune of about £1500.
I can't imagine paying £110pm and building up credit for winter.

Original poster
Question8383 · 25/06/2024 18:45

MrsCarson · 25/06/2024 18:37

So on top of getting £200 for heat and hot water, you'll still be paying more for actual water bill and electric/gas ?
My heat and hot water in 3 bed house doesn't cost £200 a month.

Exactly that. I’d still have to pay the bill for water and gas/electric anyway. It’s only a two bedroom flat and I very much doubt that the heating and hot water cost will amount to £2400 a year. The only thing is, if it’s a communal system then there’s no way to see how much I have used personally.

A previous poster asked what will happen if I’ve overpaid and whether I’ll have access to the yearly bill and that’s a very valid question. When the EA gets back to me on the counter offer, I’ll certainly ask that.

In my current property, the Landlord sends me the yearly bill that he’s received from the council and he pays it straight away. I then set up a payment plan and pay it back to him. I’m currently in a one bedroom flat but our usage for last year was only £690. Sending £200 a month seems excessive especially if the Landlord won’t even be sending me the yearly bill🤔

OP posts:
Indiaorigin · 25/06/2024 18:41

If the figurebid listed separately then generally not covered. An exception is if it covers the common parts (so electricity just for the stairwell landings etc not in your flat itself.

MrsCarson · 25/06/2024 18:37

So on top of getting £200 for heat and hot water, you'll still be paying more for actual water bill and electric/gas ?
My heat and hot water in 3 bed house doesn't cost £200 a month.

Seagrassbasket · 25/06/2024 18:37

It sounds a bit dodgy to me OP. As others have said it sounds like you could end up paying for others heating aand hot water!

Original poster
Question8383 · 25/06/2024 18:37

SilverDoe · 25/06/2024 18:31

Sorry I don’t have any advice but why on earth would a landlord want to do this? Unless it’s for dodgy reasons…

Granted I have only lived independently in 2 different properties under the same LL, but tenants are responsible for the bills and if you were to not pay, this wouldn’t come back to the landlord.

Unless they are concerned you will default on your bills and that will result in a prepayment meter being installed on the property? It still sounds really weird to me.

It’s somewhat similar to my current property.

If there’s a communal heating and hot water system, the tenant doesn’t pay for the usage as the Landlord is the one who gets charged via the council. They get a bill every year with the service charges that they need to pay and there’s also a section that says ‘hot water = usage amount, heating, usage amount.’

I personally don’t like it because the amounts aren’t specific to the tenants actual usage. Even if the property was empty, the Landlord will still have to pay the billed costs to the council. Not much I can do if there’s only a communal hot water and heating system though

OP posts:
Beezknees · 25/06/2024 18:36

SilverDoe · 25/06/2024 18:31

Sorry I don’t have any advice but why on earth would a landlord want to do this? Unless it’s for dodgy reasons…

Granted I have only lived independently in 2 different properties under the same LL, but tenants are responsible for the bills and if you were to not pay, this wouldn’t come back to the landlord.

Unless they are concerned you will default on your bills and that will result in a prepayment meter being installed on the property? It still sounds really weird to me.

I'd have thought because it makes things easier for landlords to manage, I work for an energy company and often tenants don't bother to get in touch to let us know they have moved in so the landlord ends up having to do it.

Seagrassbasket · 25/06/2024 18:36

Decompressing2 · 25/06/2024 18:27

£200 a month for hot water and heating seems like a reasonable amount to pay?

You’re joking. Unless it’s a massive house. We pay £110 a month for a three bed terrace with two adults and a toddler (and one adult works from home). That builds up a great credit for the winter we never need to pay any more.

SilverDoe · 25/06/2024 18:33

I wouldn’t think £200 was reasonable for just hot water and gas either, unless your property is large and you have a big family. Does it say anything in the tenancy agreement about what will happen if you have overpaid, and will you have access to the billing to see whether you have overpaid or not?

Fossiliferous · 25/06/2024 18:32

Question8383 · 25/06/2024 18:30

Nowhere did I say the amount isn’t reasonable and nowhere did I say I rather not pay the costs directly to the Landlord. I was simply asking how UC works it out if the hot water and heating charges were added into the rent amount. That’s all.

Thank you to those that have answered the question

Ignore the people who don't know what they're talking about and take a look here

Unless things have changed recently then I'm pretty sure in a private rental then UC pay the total rent that's on the tenancy agreement, or the LHA - whichever is lower.

Ineligible charges relate to social housing tenants.

Discussion: Rent with bills included- what can be paid by UC? - Rightsnet

https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/15237#72106

SilverDoe · 25/06/2024 18:31

Sorry I don’t have any advice but why on earth would a landlord want to do this? Unless it’s for dodgy reasons…

Granted I have only lived independently in 2 different properties under the same LL, but tenants are responsible for the bills and if you were to not pay, this wouldn’t come back to the landlord.

Unless they are concerned you will default on your bills and that will result in a prepayment meter being installed on the property? It still sounds really weird to me.

Original poster
Question8383 · 25/06/2024 18:30

Nowhere did I say the amount isn’t reasonable and nowhere did I say I rather not pay the costs directly to the Landlord. I was simply asking how UC works it out if the hot water and heating charges were added into the rent amount. That’s all.

Thank you to those that have answered the question

OP posts:
Fossiliferous · 25/06/2024 18:27

Is this social housing or a private landlord? (Relevant before a correct answer can be given)

Decompressing2 · 25/06/2024 18:27

£200 a month for hot water and heating seems like a reasonable amount to pay?

Cornflakelover · 25/06/2024 18:26

My friend is in a over 55 accomodation that includes heating and hot water
Rent is 800 inc heating / water

universal credit pay his rent but not his heating / electric.

he has to pay 200 towards his rent / bills

GillySoose · 25/06/2024 18:24

No, only the rental element for housing will be covered.

You're expected to pay for your own utilities.