If you are renting from a private landlord, we will refer your
rent to the Rent Officer. They will tell us the average local rent
cost of a home for your needs and we will assess your benefit on
this figure and not the actual amount you are paying in rent. You
will need to pay the difference from your own income.
The rent officer may agree the rent, or restrict it. They
could decide it is too expensive, bigger than your needs or has
charges in the rent that are not eligible for benefit, such as
water rates or fuel charges.
If you are single and aged under 25 special rules apply. The
rent officer will restrict your rent to the average "market value"
of a single room with shared use of a living room, kitchen and
bathroom.
You can find out how much the rent officer will value a
property at before you take on a tenancy. You must complete a
Pre-Tenancy Determination Form and send it to
us. We will send it to the rent officer who will tell you of
their decision within 5 days of receiving the form.
If you do not agree with the rent officers decision, you
should write to us and ask us to have it looked at again. A rent
officer from another area will look at the decision again.
Your eligible rent will also be reduced if you (and your
partner) have other adults living with you. This is because they
are expected to contribute to the costs
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