Universal credit help

[ggggrace]

I have 0 outgoings except house and child outgoings.

I get housing benefit but looking to move to a private landlord now. The rent will be 800 and I'm wondering (they can cover 500 for me) will they be ok with covering 500 and not the fill amount like will they be ok with me taking a higher price rental?

My income is £1115.

800 rent and 300 for bills and food. I am happy with this amount but I'm not sure if they will be ok with that? Surely in my decision? Any advice appreciated thank you

Yes, you will still get the maximum allowance for housing within your circumstances/area.

My private rent is higher than my UC housing allowance, I just pay the difference myself.

@SoSo19 thank you for your reply. So they won't ask me how I expect to pay it etc? As I can afford it, very tight but I can budget and can afford it!

Nope, you are entitled to the housing element of UC because of your circumstances - you can move to a more expensive rental but you just have to pay the extra 😊

Yes it's fine. Almost always happens with private rents because they don't pay market rates. My rent is 750 and I get £430 paid for me

If it's a 3 bedroom and I only need 2 does that matter?

@liveforsummer @SoSo19

It depends on your location. You need to find out the amount your entitled to you will be charged bedroom tax also.

I have one DC and my housing won't cover £500 for me. £300 for food and bills isn't much OP.

You'll be given the 2 bed rate if that's what you're entitled to. You are responsible to pay the rest but it doesn't affect anything

It's not just 300 though. 5 of that 800 is covered so money after rent is over 800

You will only get the 2 bed rate. The private landlord will also likely do an affordability check. Does the income amount you’ve listed include the £500 housing benefit?

No bedroom tax on private rents.

Yes it does matter, you will get less help as you will have to pay bedroom tax

Don't know how you expect to live off that measly amount left over. You need to do a benefits calculation first to see how much help you'll get, amd even then it's still not always accurate

You don’t pay bedroom tax on private rentals.

@Appleseesaw UC will only pay for a 2 bed maximum for OP. She would need to do a benefit calculation to give her a rough figure.

So OP will have a short fall of an extra bedroom and I suspect a private LL may be put off by UC.

Yes - you can get the Local Housing Allowance for your area. If you move out of the council area you would need to claim universal credit as you can’t claim housing benefit. It would be nice the landlord that would want to be certain that you can pay the rent.

Think carefully about giving up a secure tenancy if you in Council or housing association property. Have a look at hoe hard it would be to move back because you are more likely to face eviction.

How can you have zero outgoings other than rent and child costs? You need to eat, pay bills, buy clothes etc

YOU DON’T PAY BEDROOM TAX ON PRIVATE RENTALS!

I work in housing, OP you are entitled to whatever your maximum housing element of UC is given your income/personal circumstances.

They will pay the full amount of your entitlement. If you choose to rent somewhere more expensive then you pay the difference. That’s it.

I’m well aware of that. The comment I made was entirely correct.

OK, what is mean is the Local Housing Allowance, so they will base the allowance on a 2 bed

It's significantly more than I have left after rent and tbh we do ok. It's a struggle at times but that's the same for millions right now

@Appleseesaw OK I'm glad you are well aware. There's no need to be rude.

I replied because it seemed OP may not realise from how you put it..

I’m not being rude. You’ve given the OP wrong information.

Actually I think you’ve been rather rude and patronising to me.

So OP will have a short fall of an extra bedroom and I suspect a private LL may be put off by UC.

She won't have a shortfall of an extra bedroom she'll have a shortfall in rent that she clearly knows from the OP (£800 rent vs £500 contribution). The same could happen if she was looking at cramming in to a fancy £800 studio flat.