When you move into supported accommodation, your weekly charge is often split into two parts. There is the rent, and there are service charges. It helps to understand the difference, because they are treated differently by the benefit system.
What service charges cover
Service charges pay for things beyond the basic rent. In supported housing they can include heating and lighting in shared areas, cleaning of communal spaces, maintenance, and sometimes the cost of support staff. The exact list should be written down in your agreement.
Eligible and ineligible charges
Some service charges can be met by Housing Benefit. These are called eligible service charges and they usually cover things tied to the accommodation itself, like communal heating or a warden service. Others are ineligible, which means you pay them yourself. Personal charges like food, or personal utility bills in your own room, are often ineligible.
In exempt accommodation the rules can allow more of the support related charges to be covered, which is one reason exempt accommodation exists. Our guide on exempt accommodation explains this in more detail.
Why you should always ask for a breakdown
Before you agree to move in, ask the provider for a clear written breakdown of the weekly charge. You want to know the rent, the eligible service charges, the ineligible service charges, and what you will pay from your own money each week. A good provider will give you this without any fuss.
Questions worth asking
- •What is the rent, and what are the service charges on top?
- •Which charges are covered by Housing Benefit and which do I pay?
- •Are utilities for my own room included, or do I pay them separately?
- •Is there a charge for support, and how is that covered?
- •How much will I pay from my own pocket each week?
If a charge looks wrong
If you think a charge is unfair or is not being covered when it should be, you can ask the council to look at the Housing Benefit decision, and you can get free help from an advice service. Our guide on what to do if your Housing Benefit claim is refused walks through the steps.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change, so check official guidance or speak to an advice organisation.