The shared accommodation rate (often called the room rate) is the Local Housing Allowance for a room in a shared house. It's lower than the one-bedroom rate, so knowing which one applies to you makes a big difference to what you can afford.
Who gets the room rate
If you rent from a private landlord and you're single, under 35 and don't have children living with you, Universal Credit or Housing Benefit usually uses the room rate, even if you rent a self-contained flat.
Who can get the one-bedroom rate instead
Some people under 35 are exempt and get the one-bedroom rate. The main groups are:
- Care leavers under 25.
- People aged 25 to 34 who have spent at least three months in homeless hostels and accepted support to move on.
- Some people managed under MAPPA arrangements after leaving prison.
- Some disabled people, for example if you get the daily living part of PIP, the middle or higher care part of DLA, or Attendance Allowance.
- Recent changes have extended exemptions to some survivors of domestic abuse and modern slavery.
The rules have details and conditions, so if you think you might be exempt, ask your Jobcentre work coach (Universal Credit) or the council (Housing Benefit), and give them evidence, such as a letter from your leaving care team or hostel.
Couples and families
- Couples without children usually get the one-bedroom rate, whatever their age.
- Families get a rate based on how many bedrooms they need.
What it means for your search
- Find your rate with our LHA calculator, then save it in your profile so rooms show whether they're within your allowance.
- If the rent is above your rate, you pay the difference. The council may help for a while with a Discretionary Housing Payment.
- See what the room rate is in your town on our area pages.