How do I start private renting on the council?

Housing benefit is restricted to what’s called the Local Housing Allowance rate it’s based on the average rent of property at the cheaper end of the range - and you can find out that amount for the area you want to live in by looking on your council website - Under LHA rate. Under aged 25 (soon to be under 35) you’ll only get enough to rent a cheap room in a shared house. If you get the severe disability premium - with DLA high rate care for example you should get enough for a cheap one-bed flat or one bed house. You need to ask the council how you make a claim before you sign up - it may be online, by phone or by post it depends on which council. There are strict time limits and you must claim as soon as you move in.