Get help with private renting costs

You might be able to get benefits or grants to help you with the cost of renting from a private landlord or through a letting agent.

It’s important to work out what you’ll need to pay before you move in, so you'll know if you can afford to rent the property.

You’ll also need to budget for your rent and regular bills - for example gas, electricity and council tax. A budgeting tool can help you work out how much money you’ll need to pay your bills.

Help paying your tenancy deposit

It can be difficult to save up for a deposit, particularly if you’re on a low income.

You might be able to get help with the cost of your deposit from a rent deposit scheme or a rent guarantee scheme.

Your local council, housing associations, voluntary organisations, churches or community groups in your area might have a scheme.

A rent deposit scheme lends you money in advance to pay a tenancy deposit, which you’ll pay back over time.

A rent guarantee scheme (or bond scheme) gives your landlord a written guarantee - known as a bond - instead of a cash deposit. If you have problems paying your deposit, the scheme provider will use the bond to pay your landlord - this means you don't have to pay the deposit yourself.

To see if there’s a scheme near you, ask your local council.

You might want to contact your landlord or council and ask them to consider setting up a payment arrangement to allow the deposit to be paid in affordable instalments.

All landlords should be able to exercise discretion if a request for a payment arrangement is made.

If you're entitled to Housing Benefit or the housing costs part of Universal Credit, then you can apply to your local council for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) which might be able help you with the cost of a deposit.

Your local council doesn’t have to give you a DHP - it depends on your circumstances. 

There is more information about applying for a DHP on mygov.scot.

Check if you can get Universal Credit or Housing Benefit

You might be able to get extra money to help you pay your rent.

You might be able to get Universal Credit housing costs element if you’re of working age or Housing Benefit if you’re of pension age. You’ll also need to be:

• on a low income with savings below £16,000 - this will depend on your circumstances
• renting a property
• a UK resident.

Check if you should claim UC.

Read more about Housing Benefit on GOV.UK.

You might be able to get other benefits to help with your renting costs if you're on a low income. Use a benefits calculator to find out what you can claim.

If you already get benefits

You might be able to get extra money if you're already claiming benefits. The extra money you could get depends on what benefits you're claiming.

If you're getting income-related benefits

You might be able to get a budgeting loan if you're getting

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit.

A budgeting loan can help you pay:

• rent in advance
• other moving costs, for example hiring a van or buying new furniture if the place is unfurnished.

You'll need to repay the loan. Read more information on budgeting loans on GOV.UK.

You might be able to get a budgeting advance if you’re getting Universal Credit. You can use a budgeting advance to help you pay:

• moving costs
• rent deposit.

You’ll need to repay the budgeting advance. It will usually be taken off your Universal Credit payments for the next 12 months. Read more about budgeting advances.

If your benefits don't pay all your rent

If Housing Benefit or Universal Credit doesn’t cover all of your rent and you need more money, you could make a claim for a discretionary housing payment (DHP). A DHP is extra money from your local council to help pay your rent.

You need to claim Housing Benefit or the housing costs part of Universal Credit to get a DHP. You can ask your local council for a claim form.

It's a good idea to keep a copy of the form for your records.

Your local council doesn’t have to give you a DHP - it depends on your circumstances. If you can’t pay your rent and you can’t get a DHP, you should talk to your landlord as soon as possible. Read more about getting help with rent arrears.

You can contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau if you need help filling in a DHP claim form.

Using a guarantor

You might be able to get a landlord to accept you if you have a guarantor.

A guarantor is someone who will agree to pay your rent if you can’t, for example if you lose your job.

Getting a council tax reduction

You might be able to pay less council tax by claiming 'council tax reduction'.

You could get a council tax reduction if you:

• have a low income or get benefits
• have less than £16,000 in savings
• live in the property you want to pay less council tax for
• are responsible for paying council tax.

You might be able to pay less council tax even if you’re not on a low income or getting benefits. This is called a council tax discount. For example, you can apply if you live on your own or are the only adult in your home.

Read more about council tax discount.

You might not have to pay any council tax, for example if:

• you or someone you live with has a severe mental disability
• you’re a carer for someone who isn’t your partner or child.

Find out whether you can pay less council tax.

Other help and support you can get

You might be able to get other benefits to help with your renting costs if you're on a low income. Use a benefits calculator to find out what you can claim.

You can contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau to find out if any charities in your area can help with your renting costs.