Introduction

The Government has set rules on the number of bedrooms for people who rent a home from us, a housing association or a registered social landlord. This can make a difference to your housing benefit.

You will be allowed one bedroom for:

• each adult couple
• anyone over the age of 16
• two children of the same sex under 16
• two children under 10 whether boy or girl
• any other child
• if you or your partner need overnight care
• a carer who does not normally live with you
• a severely disabled child when it would be wrong for them to share a bedroom
• an empty room expected to be used by a child you are fostering
• a room left empty by an adult child serving in the Armed Forces while they are away on operations

These rules will apply even if:

• you and your partner need to sleep apart for medical reasons
• your child lives somewhere else but you have a spare room for when they stay with you

If you have one ‘spare’ bedroom we will cut your maximum housing benefit by 14% of the rent you pay each week.

If you have two or more ‘spare’ bedrooms, we will reduce it by 25%.

There are people who would not be affected including:

• those of state pension credit age or with a partner of that age
• disabled people in a home provided by a county council, housing association, registered charity or voluntary organisation that provides care, support or supervision for the tenant
• homeless people in temporary accommodation
• those in shared ownership homes

If your housing benefit does not cover all your rent and you need more help, you might want to consider a discretionary housing payment.