Extra help with housing costs

A Crisis Resilience Fund Housing Payment (CRF HP) is short term financial help to support people who are struggling to pay their rent.

The payment is made possible through the Government’s Crisis and Resilience Fund, which helps people during a financial crisis.  

CRF 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 CRF Housing Payment help?

A CRF 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 CRF 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, CRF Housing Payments:

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

Important: CRF 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.

Apply online using My Account

You can apply for a CRF - Housing Payment online, using My Account.

If you don’t already have an account, it only takes a few minutes to register and set one up. Once registered, go into the benefits portal to start a new application.

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 CRF 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.