I’m not missing something here am I? Universal credit, renting and saving for a deposit.

[tiredconfusedhungry]

Keeping it a bit vague. I’m separated, STBXH and I were looking at figures last night and we’re not going to come out with much to put towards a deposit. We’re looking at around £15k each, I’d need a deposit of around £60k - £70k and that’s to buy a 2 bed house.

We’re in the South East and house prices here are high, rent is high. We’re already in the ‘cheaper’ part, moving further away from where we are puts us in prime commuting land and would be more expensive.

Anyway, it’s likely I will end up renting and saving for a bigger deposit. I did a calculation on entitled to (based on no savings) and I could get some help with rent, which is great. It means I could save some money each month and then hopefully buy after about 4 years.

But now I’ve looked into it further, if you have more than £16k in savings you aren’t entitled to any help. Which I do understand, but it then means that after all essential bills and costs are covered, I’d have about £200 left a month. Which doesn’t go far with 2 kids and certainly wouldn’t leave me anything to save.

So essentially I’m never going to be able to save a deposit am I?

In February 2024, single‑person households made up 47% of all UC recipient households. There’s no data that breaks down employment types (FT, PT) but about 24% of them are in work.

Yes, and why shouldn't people be expected to share houses?

In which world don't people with limited funds make decisions on what they can afford at that time? Nobody can expect to be able to claim UC to save for a bigger property which they will need at some time in the future!

Chances are they are already in a tenancy when their children grow up and move out. Do you expect them to just end their tenancy, and pay to move out of a secure home because you want them to? lol. So if someone has a home they are renting near their work place, they have to risk giving in their notice to end their tenancy, then possibly not having a new place to move into/or the place they find falling through (just a reminder of the housing crisis). To then have the council accuse them of making themselves intentionally homeless because they gave up their original tenancy. What planet do you live on?

I really miss the laugh react on Mumsnet, some comments are ridiculous 😂

What about UC housing element as that is completely different to housing benefit

‘People don’t only make choices…’

Please read what’s written before responding.

I literally posted your question onto ChatGPT and you initially referred to HB. However when I ask about UCHE specifically it tells me that in 2023/24, £8.4 billion of housing support went through the Universal Credit housing element to assist private renters.

I should say I haven’t checked the references.

Have I missed something, are you actually suggesting that people move into shared accommodation with their children? How does that work for anyone involved?

It wasn’t me who posted about housing benefit

This may be a hideous idea, but short term could you 'split' your house so you don't have to move, but get your own space?

No they mean single people when their children have moved out. As I said single people who work full time can still receive UC depending how much their rent and income is

Op - there are 2 bed properties on Rightmove in your area. See an independent financial advisor to work out what mortgage you can afford, online is just a guide.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/163555880

This is the dumbest thing I've ever read.

Where are those figures from? According to govt figures, 7.5 million people were on Universal Credit in January 2025, and 2.5m are single with no children and of those, around half were claiming for limited capability to work or carer responsibilities. Of the rest, it would be very interesting to find out how many are capable of f/t work but choose not to.

Oh no I see it wasn’t - apols

That makes slightly more sense. I’m aware that single people with no dependents can claim UC.

The problem with flats in developments like this is there will be a maintenance charge and ground rent. In this case, just over 3k per year. It might cover some utilities but OP would need to factor in that £250 a month on top of the mortgage.

Govt data also, looks like you found a more recent total but AFAIK there is no available breakdown for ft/pt work.

Buy gold and a safe. Or get a safety deposit box they still have them ant some banking establishments and put your gold and cash into them.

No, as PP has already responded, I was discussing working single no-child individuals, as I was under the impression that they were unable to claim UC - it appears they are, which seems incredible given they are the easiest to move and house cheaply, with ideas such as shared accommodation. That obviously wouldn't be suitable in most cases for those with children.

I’m with you.

Single people with no children can claim UC but will often not be eligible for enough to rent their own accommodation so they are in shared accommodation. In cheaper areas I imagine that happens less often. That can be fine, but as it doesn’t apply to many people, you can end up - through no fault of your own, through illness or bereavement - as a lodger in someone else’s house. And paying their mortgage, so one way or another the taxpayer is paying for someone to own/maintain a property or lifestyle.

Do you already own a house that you are planning to sell? If so why can’t you stay in the home with the children and get a loan for 15 thousand to buy your ex out. If this isn’t possibly then you could look at putting your 15 down on a shared ownership property.

But it may not be for life. You may meet someone else and buy a house with them one day.

Most of us taxpayers have worked really hard all our lives I’ve worked since I was 15, I don’t see why taxpayers should help you save for a deposit on a house that’s not what the system is for get a second job put your name on a council house list what you’re wanting is just benefits system gone mad