Extra help with housing costs

A Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) can offer short term financial help to support people who are struggling to pay their rent. 

Discretionary Housing Payments are:

• temporary support, not long term help
• decided case by case, based on your situation
• meant to help you stay in your home or move into a new one safely.

When can a Discretionary Housing Payment help?

A Discretionary Housing Payment may help if you are struggling to cover your housing costs because of a change in your circumstances.

For example, it may help with:

• a rent shortfall (the gap between your rent and your benefits)
• rent arrears, if this will help you keep your home
• a rent deposit
• rent in advance if you need to move to secure somewhere to live.

You may be able to apply for a Housing Payment if you:

• live in Brent
• pay rent for your home
• get Housing Benefit or the housing cost part of Universal Credit
• are struggling to pay your rent without extra help.

When we look at your application, we consider:

• how much money you have coming in
• what you spend money on
• why you are having financial difficulty
• whether the payment would help prevent homelessness or solve a housing problem.

There is no set amount for a payment. We look at:

• what help you need
• how much your housing costs are
• what will make the biggest difference right now.

A payment may cover part of your rent shortfall or housing costs, for a limited time.

This is not a benefit, Housing Payments:

• are not a guaranteed benefit
• are not paid automatically
• depend on your individual circumstances
• are limited by available funding.

Important: Discretionary Housing Payments are paid from a limited budget each year. Once the money for that year has been used, we will not be able to accept new applications until the next year.

If you are on a low income or finding money difficult, we strongly encourage you to get advice and support. We can help with:

• budgeting support
• debt advice
• checking if you can get other benefits or grants.

You may also be able to apply for a Resident Support Fund - Crisis Payment if you need help with essentials like food or energy bills.

You must apply online before we can make a decision.

Before you start your application

Make sure you have all the information you need to hand before you start. This will help us make a decision faster.

You will need:

• your National Insurance number
• your Housing Benefit reference number (if you have one)
• details of your income
• details of what you spend money on each week
• details of any rent arrears or debts.

You will also need to upload:

• the last 2 months of bank statements for all accounts you (and your partner) have (they must show your name and address)
• your full tenancy agreement
• a statement from your landlord showing how much rent you owe and since when.

When you fill in the form, it helps if you explain:

• what has changed in your life
• why you are struggling to pay your rent
• any illness or disability that affects you or your family
• how this affects your money or daily life.

Once you apply:

• we check the information you’ve given
• we decide if you can get a payment
• we decide how much and for how long.

We aim to make a decision within 20 working days. If you send all the information we need with your application, we may be able to make a decision within 10 working days.

If you are successful:

• the payment will be paid to you or your landlord
• your total Housing Benefit/Universal Credit Housing Cost and Discretionary Housing Payment will not be more than your rent.

There is no formal right of appeal.

However:

• you can ask us to look at the decision again
• you can reapply if your circumstances change.