The Rent Service
The Rent Service
The Rent Service is an executive agency of the
Department for Work and Pensions. The Rent Service provides
valuations for local authorities in England, for use in the
assessment of claims for Housing Benefit where the tenant is
renting from a private landlord.
Housing Benefit Determinations
In making a determination The Rent Service will consider:
- The level of rent
- The rent for similar properties within the
vicinity
- The number of rooms
- The age and number of people living within the
property being assessed
Taking into account all of the above, The Rent
Service then advises the Local Authority of the level of
rent to be used in the benefit calculation by providing them with
the following figures:
- The Claim Related Rent for the property.
- The Local Reference Rent.
- The Single Room Rent (for single tenants under
25 years of age). This is approximately £42.50.
The Council is required to calculate benefit
using the lowest of the
figures. This is known as the 'maximum rent'.
Service Charges
Some services included in a tenant's rent are
not eligible to be met by housing benefit. These include heating,
lighting, water rates, meals, general counselling & support
and emergency alarms. The Rent Officer will determine the
value of ineligible services and his valuations will be net of
these services, so the Council only needs to make further
deductions from the maximum rent for meals.
The determination will usually run for 12
months unless there is a significant change to the property
or the number of people included within the household.
Pre-Tenancy Rent Determinations
If you are claiming housing benefit and are
planning to rent from a private landlord you can ask The Rent
Service to make a valuation before you sign the tenancy agreement.
You need to complete a pre-tenancy determination form available on
The Rent Service website or from your local authority housing
benefit department . The PTD form needs to be signed by you as the
prospective tenant, and either the landlord or landlords agent, and
returned to the local authority Housing Benefit department that
covers the area where the property is located. This form
must not be sent direct to The Rent Service.
The existence of a Pre-tenancy
Determination does not guarantee that benefit will be awarded or
how much will be paid.
To learn more about The Rent Service please visit their website:
www.therentservice.gov.uk
Allerdale Borough Council
