Rent and benefits

How much of my rent could benefits cover?

A private-rental LHA rent-cap calculator for Birmingham and other UK areas. Compare eligible rent with the official rate, then check your full entitlement before agreeing a tenancy.

Check your rent against the LHA cap

AccommodationBenefit route

Eligible rent (£)Rent frequency

Enter your share of eligible rent, excluding ineligible bills and charges. This tool does not assess which charges qualify.

Find the right rate first

Use the property postcode and your bedroom entitlement, not just the city or the advert's bedroom count. Single people under 35 usually have the shared rate, but exceptions apply.

Look up your official LHA rate ↗Then check the DWP monthly UC rate for that BRMA ↗

Birmingham BRMA example (2026/27)

Only use it after confirming your postcode is in Birmingham BRMA and this is your entitlement.

Official monthly UC LHA rate (£)I checked the postcode, bedroom entitlement and monthly UC rate.

Your rent comparison

Plan before you commit to rent

Choose private rental, enter eligible rent and a checked LHA rate to see the ceiling and possible rent gap. No personal details are saved.

Find Birmingham rooms accepting benefits Check your full benefit entitlement →

Which rules apply?

An HMO room is not automatically supported or exempt accommodation. Ask the provider whether care, support or supervision is part of your housing and confirm the benefit route with the council. This tool compares rent and the LHA limit only; it does not decide eligibility.

VOA 2026/27 rate publication DWP 2026/27 monthly Universal Credit rates Birmingham rate table carried forward to 2026/27 UC private-rental rules and shared-rate exceptions Supported and temporary housing rules

Sources checked 7 October 2026. Birmingham examples are valid 1 April 2026–31 March 2027 and are hidden automatically outside that period. Always check your postcode rate.