THOUSANDS of renters could be missing out on extra help if they’re struggling with their bills.
Almost 500,000 households owe money to their landlords, according to Citizens Advice.
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It said renters who are struggling to get by may be eligible for extra help. Here are some ways you may be able to get financial support:
One-off payments
Local councils are sitting on millions of pounds in unspent cash which has been provided to help struggling renters.
The government announced in October last year that £65million of extra funding would be available to those on low incomes in rent arrears.
But an investigation by The Sun at the start of the year, found that almost half the councils that had been given funding were yet to splash any of the cash.
So it’s worth finding out if there’s anything left in the pot in your local area.
Money is given to renters on a case-by-case basis by each local authority, what you can get varies depending on where you live and your financial situation.
Discretionary Housing Payment
Available to those receiving Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit, the Discretionary Housing Payment can help cover housing costs such as putting down a deposit.
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Money is given out on a case-by-case basis, often when your housing benefit is not enough to cover your rent or you’re moving home and need a deposit or rent advance.
The amount you may get is decided on a case-by-case basis, and may be a one-off lump sum or regular payment.
Local councils decide what’s given out in their area, but each only has a certain amount of funding available to dish out so it’s always better to apply soon rather than later.
Household Support Fund
The Household Support Fund was launched in October 2021, and was a £500million pot dished out to local councils to help struggling households in their area.
The pot was doubled to £1billion earlier this year, and Chancellor Rishi Sunak last week announced that it would be bolstered to £1.5billion from October.
That means there’s more help available than ever before, so it’s well worth finding out what’s on offer from your local council.
Each local authority decides how much cash to give out and who is eligible. For example, some offer free school meals vouchers while others will give money towards energy bills.
But some will offer free cash grants which could be put towards your rent if you’re struggling.
Find out which is your local council using the Government website, and get in touch to see what you might be eligible for.
The Welfare Assistance Scheme is a similar programme, offering free cash, food vouchers and bill help – and some local authorities may put money towards your rent.
However, research by The Sun found it’s something of a postcode lottery and not all local councils have a scheme in place.
Money for downsizing
Families can get up to £8,000 just for moving house in they’re living in a council-owned property.
If you’re living in a home that’s bigger than you need, your local authority could give you money to downsize and free up the property for a bigger family.
A number of councils have schemes in place offering incentives for Brits to downsize because of a housing shortage in many areas across the UK.
How much you can get depends on your needs and circumstances, but you can find out what’s on offer in your local area by contacting your council.
An investigation by The Sun spotted some councils offering up to £8,000 to those who downsized.
Talk to your landlord
If you are struggling to keep up with your rent, speaking to your landlord is an important step.
It’s worth flagging in advance that you’re having problems rather than waiting until you’re in arrears.
The landlord might be able to discuss a payment plan for you, or possibly consider reducing your rent for a period.
If you’re already in arrears, they may help you come up with an affordable repayment plan to cover what you owe.
You can also contact debt charities for help and guidance such as National Debtline, StepChange and Citizens Advice.
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