Discretionary Housing Payments

Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) are extra payments if you need help with rent or housing costs.

You must get either Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit to be eligible.

Discretionary Housing Payments can be used to help with:

Rent shortfalls

There are many reasons why your Housing Benefit or housing element of Universal Credit may be less than your rent. These are the main types of shortfall DHP can cover:  

  • Social Size Criteria (also known as the ‘under-occupancy charge’ or ‘bedroom tax’)
  • non-dependant deduction – you have an adult living with you who is not a partner, joint tenant or boarder
  • a change to your household
  • benefit cap
  • Local Housing Allowance – you are only entitled to the rate for a shared room or the maximum rate for 4 bedrooms
  • any other reason – for example, your income is too high to be entitled to full help with your rent

Rent arrears

If you are being evicted for rent arrears and have (or had) a shortfall in your rent, a one-off or backdated payment can be made to clear or reduce the arrears.  

If you apply for DHP for rent arrears, you need to:  

  • show you have exceptional circumstances which explain why you need to remain in the property
  • show that you cannot afford the arrears yourself
  • provide proof of your rent arrears from the time they built up (unless you are a council tenant)

You will not qualify for DHP if you were getting enough Housing Benefit or Universal Credit to cover all of your rent at the time the arrears built up.  

  

Rent deposit, bond or rent in advance

If you need help to move because you are at risk of being made homeless or you have found somewhere more suitable, you may be able to get a Discretionary Housing Payment to cover the rent deposit, bond or rent in advance to help you secure the tenancy.  

You can only apply for a DHP if:  

    • Leeds Housing Options are unable to help, and
      • ,
    • you are not eligible for a Department for Work and Pensions budgeting loan, and
    • you are currently living in a property covered within the Leeds City Council, and
    • you are in receipt of Housing Benefit or the housing allowance element of Universal Credit at your current address (If you are living with parents or have no fixed abode, you are not eligible), and
    • you cannot afford to pay the rent deposit, bond or rent in advance yourself (If you have savings or paid a rent deposit or bond at your current address, you can use this to secure the new tenancy), and
    • you have found new accommodation that is suitable for your needs and is at a more reasonable or affordable rent level similar to Local Housing Allowance rates, and
    • you have not already signed the tenancy agreement or moved into the new property, and
    • the amount you are requesting is reasonable

    Please note:  

    • we cannot help with both the rent deposit (bond) and rent in advance payments for the same property. We can only help with one. If more than one is required, you must show you have secured the other yourself.
    • council and Housing Associations should not be asking for rent deposits (bonds) or rent in advance to help secure a tenancy
    • if a DHP is awarded for rent in advance, you must repay it to us when you get your Housing Benefit or housing element of Universal Credit payment. Otherwise, you will have received help for the same period twice
    • Discretionary Housing Payments cannot cover administration costs

    If you meet this criteria, we will contact you for proof of the rent deposit (bond) or rent in advance required.  

    If an award is made, payments will be made to the new landlord, either by crossed cheque or straight into their bank account.

    If you are given a Discretionary Housing Payment, you must tell us about your change of address and give us a copy of your new tenancy agreement.  

You cannot apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment for help with:  

  • council tax
  • service charges not covered by Housing Benefit (gas, electric, water, meals)
  • increases in rent due to outstanding rent arrears
  • reduced income caused by sanctions or reductions
  • a shortfall in your Housing Benefit due to repaying overpaid Housing Benefit
  • extra payments you are making to clear rent arrears
  • a notice period if you have had to move properties at short notice and you get Housing Benefit – call us on 0113 222 4404 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) to find out if you could be eligible to claim Housing Benefit on two homes. You can apply for this type of help from the Department for Work and Pensions if you get the housing allowance element of Universal Credit
  • administration costs associated with securing a new tenancy
  • mortgage costs
  
  

Before you apply

If you can, try to:

Let us know if your circumstances change, as this could affect how much money you receive. If you are overpaid, you will have to pay this money back to us.

How to apply

You will need:

  • your National Insurance Number
  • your Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support reference number (if you have one)
  • a copy of your Universal Credit award letter, if you get Universal Credit
  • details of your income and expenses
  • details of any arrears or debts you have and the repayment amounts
  • details of anyone who lives with you, including their income
  • your bank details
  • the landlord's bank details and details of the new property, if you are applying for a rent deposit, bond or rent in advance

We recommend that you complete the form in one go.

If you need to provide any proofs, you can email documents or photos of documents to: LBS.Distribution@leeds.gov.uk.

You must put your full name, address and DIS reference (given to you when you apply online) on anything you email to us.

Apply for a Discretionary Housing PaymentExternal link

Apply by post

If you are unable to use the online form, please complete a paper form and return it, along with copies of any proofs, to any Community hub.

Decision making

All applications for a Discretionary Housing Payment will normally be subject to an income and expenditure review.

Discretionary Housing Payment will not normally be considered where:

  • suitable alternative more affordable housing is an option
  • alternative income sources are available. This will include unclaimed benefits, income from other adults living in the household, and savings
  • alternative options exist. This includes having scope to reduce debt repayments or costs on non-essential items

Appeal a decision we have made

If you disagree with our decision not to give you Discretionary Housing Payments, the amount we have decided to give you or how long we will pay you, you can ask us to look at the decision again.

Write to us within one calendar month of the date of the decision letter, telling us why you do not agree with our decision.

You should include any additional information that you think may be relevant that was not included in your original request. This is important because if there are no new factors to consider, then the decision is unlikely to be changed.

Your case will be reviewed by another officer who will then make a final decision. After this, you have no further right of appeal.

You can also read our Discretionary Housing Payments policy.

Use this form to give us your comments. Do not use it to give us personal information - please contact us if you need to get in touch.