You can get help with your housing costs if you are eligible for Universal Credit. Your housing payment can help with the payment of:
Rent to a private landlord
- Your rent and some service charges if you rent from a housing association or council
- Interest payments on your mortgage and some service charges.
- If your housing payment does not cover all your housing costs you might be eligible to apply to the Local Authority for a Discretionary Housing Payment. For more information on Discretionary Housing Payments please visit the Maidstone Borough Council website or the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council website
In addition to the above you might also be eligible for a Council Tax Reduction or other financial help through Universal Credit. You can claim for housing costs if you already have a Universal Credit claim.
Help with a deposit or guarantee when moving into the private sector
Your Local Council may be able to help you with its own rent deposit, bond, or guarantee scheme. These are usually provided to individuals at risk of homelessness who have an urgent need to move and would find it difficult to afford the costs associated with such a move.
You can speak to someone at:
Maidstone Borough Council – 01622 602000
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council – 01892 526121
Problems paying your mortgage
The Building Societies Association has produced a joint guidance document with the Money Advice Trust which you can download here.