Charnwood Borough Council

WHAT IS ELIGIBLE RENT

PLEASE NOTE - IF YOU MADE A NEW CLAIM FOR BENEFIT OR MOVED ADDRESS ON OR AFTER THE 7th APRIL 2008 PLEASE SEE PAGE ON LOCAL HOUSING ALLOWANCE.

We cannot pay housing benefit for the following items:

• Water rates
• Meals / Food
• Heating and Lighting
• Cooking and hot water
• Laundry
• Television licences

If you pay rent to a private landlord (except Housing Associations) the Council must ask the Rent Service to see if the rent is reasonable for Housing Benefit purposes. We can still ask the Rent Service if you are the tenant of a Housing Association if we think the rent is too expensive or your property is too big for your needs.

If the Rent Service decides your rent is too high or your accommodation is too big for your needs, a lower figure than the one you pay will be used to calculate your benefit. This is called your eligible rent.

If you are single and under he age of 25, we will also apply for a Single Room Rent. This figure may be lower than the normal rent level set by the Rent Service. There are some exceptions to this rule that we will tell you about.

Using the Rent Service valuation may mean that you may not get the full amount of benefit. You may be able to get help with the shortfall through a Discretionary Housing Payment. Click here for more information.

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If you pay rent to a landlord other than Charnwood Borough Council we can pay your Housing Benefit direct to your landlord. If you wish this to happen please complete the form below. If you are a council tenant we will automatically pay the benefit onto your rent account.

• Direct Payment Mandate (PDF Document 61.82 Kb.)

If you do not have proof of your rent please ask your landlord to complete the proof of rent form below.

• Proof of Rent (PDF Document 71.11 Kb.)