Housing Benefit for private tenants

How many bedrooms you need

The number of bedrooms you need depends on how many people live with you. You are allowed one bedroom for:

• A couple
• Any other adult aged 16 or over
• Any two children of the same gender aged under 16
• Any two children aged under 10
• Any other child

The rate for single people under 35 is based on a room in shared accommodation, such as a bed sit or a room in a property where kitchen and bathroom facilities are shared with other tenants.

Example 1

Ann and Jack are a couple who have a child, Lewis, who is nine years old. They are entitled to one bedroom for themselves and one bedroom for Lewis. This means any Housing Benefit they are entitled to will be based on the Local Housing Allowance rate for two bedrooms.

Example 2

Jill is a single mother who has three children. Bob, who is fourteen, Liz who is eleven and Calum who is six. Jill is entitled to one bedroom for herself, one bedroom for Liz and one bedroom for Bob and Calum to share. This means any Housing Benefit she is entitled to will be based on the Local Housing Allowance rate for three bedrooms.