Renting privately with a new benefit claim

BradPittsLeftArmpit · 28/12/2025 11:17

How old are your children? I ask because it will be massively relevant to whether the council will help you or not. Depending on where you are, they will still take an age to house you - emergency accommodation and then temporary, but that will also depend on your circumstances right now. Are you still in the marital home? Private landlords/agents will need to see bank statements anyway, so no point in hiding any benefits

yeesh · 28/12/2025 11:20

you can do both, my local council has a team that help find places to rent privately and can help with a deposit etc. you can join the housing waiting list and look at private renting, how easy it will be to find somewhere will depend on your area.

Anonimiss · 28/12/2025 11:29

The landlords letting agent will want copies of your bank statements anyway.
Going from experience I’m afraid you may find it hard to get something - most agents say you have to earn a minimum amount in order to apply for rentals.

Lightuptheroom · 28/12/2025 11:30

You'll need to disclose where the rent is going to come from, particularly as you're only working part time it's going to be obvious that you probably won't pass the affordability part of referencing. I've done this and the only way I managed to get a private rental was with a guarantor as well. Councils run schemes for first month deposit etc so you'd be better to ask one of your relatives to act as guarantor (at the end of the day any landlord wants to be sure as possible that rent will be paid) Do be aware that local housing allowance can take a while to come through, make sure that it's affordable whilst you are waiting. You can be on the housing list as well as privately renting but wouldn't score particularly highly as you'd be adequately housed. Councils now tend to direct people to private renting if they can afford to do so as otherwise you're likely to be in temporary accomodation for some time as that's the councils only 'duty' . You also need to take into account if there's a marital home then this will be taken into account for any benefit claim and you'll be expected to resolve finances quickly.

Original poster

amiac · 28/12/2025 11:44

BradPittsLeftArmpit · 28/12/2025 11:17

How old are your children? I ask because it will be massively relevant to whether the council will help you or not. Depending on where you are, they will still take an age to house you - emergency accommodation and then temporary, but that will also depend on your circumstances right now. Are you still in the marital home? Private landlords/agents will need to see bank statements anyway, so no point in hiding any benefits

Hiya 10 and 7 x thanks BFF or your reply x

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Original poster

amiac · 28/12/2025 11:47

Lightuptheroom · 28/12/2025 11:30

You'll need to disclose where the rent is going to come from, particularly as you're only working part time it's going to be obvious that you probably won't pass the affordability part of referencing. I've done this and the only way I managed to get a private rental was with a guarantor as well. Councils run schemes for first month deposit etc so you'd be better to ask one of your relatives to act as guarantor (at the end of the day any landlord wants to be sure as possible that rent will be paid) Do be aware that local housing allowance can take a while to come through, make sure that it's affordable whilst you are waiting. You can be on the housing list as well as privately renting but wouldn't score particularly highly as you'd be adequately housed. Councils now tend to direct people to private renting if they can afford to do so as otherwise you're likely to be in temporary accomodation for some time as that's the councils only 'duty' . You also need to take into account if there's a marital home then this will be taken into account for any benefit claim and you'll be expected to resolve finances quickly.

Hello. House is in my partners name.
we are not married.

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Lightuptheroom · 28/12/2025 11:56

Ok. Are the 10 and 7 year old same sex or boy/girl? With those ages the council will allocate 1 room for emergency accomodation and you'd eventually qualify for 2 bedrooms. Still your best thing is to secure someone to act as a guarantor as it widens your options. Referencing for private rental normally expects your income to be x times over the rent. My son also had to have a guarantor when he rented as his wages weren't deemed sufficient and that's on a full time salary on his own with no dependents.

Octavia64 · 28/12/2025 12:00

I recently had similar.

I had to provide bank statements for the last three months, they asked hr at my job to provide a letter stating nature and hours of employment.

if you are getting benefits it will be obvious from your bank statements.

Original poster

amiac · 28/12/2025 12:12

Octavia64 · 28/12/2025 12:00

I recently had similar.

I had to provide bank statements for the last three months, they asked hr at my job to provide a letter stating nature and hours of employment.

if you are getting benefits it will be obvious from your bank statements.

I don’t have the benefits yet. It will be a new claim made when I leave.
i think you need to be in the property before you can claim for the rent because they ask you for the address and the council tax band etc etc
so no benefits at all yet.
haven’t even made my claim yet as wondering if I should wait until I get into a property.
is there a way I can add rent to my claim without having secured the property?

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Original poster

amiac · 28/12/2025 12:13

Lightuptheroom · 28/12/2025 11:56

Ok. Are the 10 and 7 year old same sex or boy/girl? With those ages the council will allocate 1 room for emergency accomodation and you'd eventually qualify for 2 bedrooms. Still your best thing is to secure someone to act as a guarantor as it widens your options. Referencing for private rental normally expects your income to be x times over the rent. My son also had to have a guarantor when he rented as his wages weren't deemed sufficient and that's on a full time salary on his own with no dependents.

Boy and girl

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Eudaimonia11 · 28/12/2025 12:17

Depending on how competitive it is in your area, it can be really difficult to get a landlord to rent their property to a single parent and even more difficult when that single parent is unable to provide for themselves and their children. I found it hard and I was working full time with just one child.

My advice is to work full time if at all possible.

Lightuptheroom · 28/12/2025 12:39

You'll need a signed tenancy agreement in order to claim the rental element, which is why you need to factor in that it could take 6 weeks or more to process this part of your claim and the landlord will still expect payment.

Bromptotoo · 28/12/2025 15:30

Boy and girl with one over ten means Universal Credit will allow the three bed rate of LHA towards your rent.

As others have said it's worthwhile talking to the Council as they may well have a register of LLs prepared to let to people on Social Security.

PennyLaneisinmyheartandmysoul · 28/12/2025 15:36

how part time are you? Could you increase the hours and claim for bfast club/afterschool via uc?

Boomer55 · 28/12/2025 16:38

amiac · 28/12/2025 10:51

Hello all.
looking for some advice regarding private renting.
I’m going through a separation and looking to rent a home privately for myself and 2 kids.
im working part time and have used the online benefit calculator to see what help I could get with housing costs.
with that in mind I have started looking at private rented properties and wanted some advice about whether to be up front with agents about benefits or not.
I am going to be getting a loan from family for the deposit payment and initial month rent. However they will know that my earnings don’t cover the rent.
do you think it’s possible that some landlords/agents will be ok with the benefits covering the rent?
or should I just get on the council housing register?
TIA x

You will find it difficult. Most private landlords want working people/couples who don’t rely on benefits. I think Open-rent are more flexible as it doesn’t involve agents.

caringcarer · 28/12/2025 17:32

I've recently let out one of my best houses to a couple with 2 DC on benefits. They were being evicted just before Xmas and one of them is th DD of a friend. I know they would not pass a financial scrutiny by EA but I believe they will the pay rent on time and look after the house and I couldn't let them be forced into temporary accommodation just before Xmas when I could accommodate them. DH says if it goes wrong it's on me.

Crikeyalmighty · 28/12/2025 17:39

caringcarer · 28/12/2025 17:32

I've recently let out one of my best houses to a couple with 2 DC on benefits. They were being evicted just before Xmas and one of them is th DD of a friend. I know they would not pass a financial scrutiny by EA but I believe they will the pay rent on time and look after the house and I couldn't let them be forced into temporary accommodation just before Xmas when I could accommodate them. DH says if it goes wrong it's on me.

That was a really nice thing to do - I hope they repay your trust - one thing I will say is there is no guarantee just because people are working that they will be great tenants - my son had a guy in his flat share - in London, good job , was lousy at every aspect, paying on time, mess, not notifying my son he’d got a leaky shower etc ( my son rents but counts as head tenant as Bern there longest- so he deals with landlord. Often a family who know they are lucky will be keen to keep the home if it’s a private let

Original poster

amiac · 29/12/2025 09:50

PennyLaneisinmyheartandmysoul · 28/12/2025 15:36

how part time are you? Could you increase the hours and claim for bfast club/afterschool via uc?

Do you know what the threshold is for this?
I assumed that increasing my hours would just mean reducing the benefits they will provide?
im working 25 hours. Have just applied for a job with 33.5 hours.

OP posts:

herbalteabag · 29/12/2025 09:59

amiac · 29/12/2025 09:50

Do you know what the threshold is for this?
I assumed that increasing my hours would just mean reducing the benefits they will provide?
im working 25 hours. Have just applied for a job with 33.5 hours.

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It would decrease your benefits by about half for money earned above the salary allowance, I believe?
I helped a friend view houses who was on benefits, there weren't many available at the time, but she wasn't successful on the few she did like due to housing benefit and some didn't want children there, unfortunately.

Anonimiss · 29/12/2025 10:15

@amiac you can claim UC anyway but will have to attend weekly meetings with a job coach and be expected to look for more work, there’s a threshold of about £895 ( probably changed now I’m going from figures a couple of years ago) that you have to earn so that you can claim UC and be ‘left alone’ ie no weekly meetings and not be expected to look for more work.
its true that they will reduce your UC as your salary increases but you will still be better off the more you work (and ultimately the goal is for you to earn enough so that you won’t have to claim UC)