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<p>Universal Credit claimants are entitled to support for housing costs as long as
they can prove they have a commercial liability to pay rent for the accommodation
that they live in and meet all other conditions of entitlement. Claimants will usually
evidence their housing costs with a tenancy agreement, but we can consider other forms
of evidence such as a letter from the landlord or a rent book.</p><p> </p><p>For private
sector tenants, their support for housing costs will be the relevant Local Housing
Allowance rate or the actual rent cost where this is lower than the relevant LHA rate.</p><p>
</p><p>For social sector tenants, their support for housing costs will normally be
their actual housing costs, including eligible service charges less any deductions.</p><p>
</p><p>In cash terms there is no difference between the level of support for housing
costs used to calculate the claimant’s monthly award, and those paid under a managed
payment to a landlord so long as the level of Universal Credit award is greater than
the value of the housing costs. However, the exact amount of a managed payment to
a landlord is dependent on the level of award and any other deductions applied to
the Universal Credit claim.</p><p> </p>
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