What can you do if you’re struggling with rent rises?

Soaring demand and falling supply mean renters are paying more to keep a roof over their head.

In fact, recent figures from Confused.com show that almost half of renters (46%) have seen their rent go up in the last year.

And worryingly, more than three-quarters (77%) say rent rises have affected their personal finances, with many having to reduce their personal spending and cut back on essentials like food.

Meanwhile, more than a third of renters say that increasing costs mean they’re unable to save.

What support is available for renters?

According to Confused.com, the average monthly rent in the UK is now £839.

And more than one in five (21%) are now paying over £1,000 per month.

So if you’re struggling to keep up with rental costs, it’s important to know what help is out there.

Universal credit

Universal credit may include extra money to help people of working age with rent and service charges. 

This housing element is usually included in your monthly payment and paid directly to your landlord.

You can also apply for additional support from your universal credit if you're dealing with financial hardship.

Housing benefit

If you’re over state pension age, you might qualify for housing benefit through your local council. 

Some people under pension age may also be eligible, particularly if they live in supported or temporary housing.

The amount you receive depends on:

• your age
• where you live
• the size of your household

Discretionary housing payment (DHP)

If your rent is already partly covered by universal credit or housing benefit, you may be able to get a discretionary housing payment (DHP) - short-term payments that can help with rent or other housing costs.

You can apply for a DHP through your local council.

Charity grants

Organisations like Turn2us can help you find and apply for grants and other financial support from charities and local community groups.

Try our household bills calculator

If you’re worried about how rising costs could affect your finances, it could also be worth trying our free and interactive household bills calculator.

In just a few minutes, you’ll get a personalised estimate of how your monthly costs could change, with results tailored to where you live, so you’re not caught out when new bills arrive.

Once you’ve done this, you can take the next step by using our handy budget planner to map out your monthly finances. 

It’s free and easy to use.

Find out what benefits you can claim

If you’re struggling to keep up with household bills, remember that you might be entitled to some support.

We can check you’re getting all the benefits you’re eligible to claim with our benefits calculator.