If you live in a Council or Housing Association home and have one or more ‘spare’ bedrooms your Housing Benefit may be reduced – this is often referred to as the ‘bedroom tax.’ Children are expected to share a bedroom.
Does the ‘bedroom tax’ apply to everyone?
No. This will not affect you if:
How do I know if my home is too big?
You are allowed one bedroom for:
- Every adult couple
- Any other adult (16 or over)
- Any two children of the same sex aged under 16
- Two children under the age of 10 whether they are a boy or a girl
- Any other child
- A carer who does not normally live with you but provides a member of your household with overnight care
Children who normally live elsewhere are not counted.
You can use the
bedroom calculatorExternal link opens in a new window to get an idea of how this could affect you.
How much of my benefit will be cut?
If you have one ‘spare’ bedroom your Housing Benefit will reduce by at least 14%.
If you have two or more spare bedrooms your Housing Benefit will reduce by at least 25%.
Some of my bedrooms are too small to use as a bedroom
When you moved into your home, it was on the agreement it had a certain number of bedrooms. If you think this was wrong, and your home has less bedrooms, you should talk to your landlord.
In very exceptional cases your landlord may consider reclassifying your home as a smaller property. If your landlord does this, and reduces your rent, your claim will be looked at again and a decision will be made whether to revise your benefit.
If you are a Council tenant, contact us. If you are a Housing Association tenant, speak to your landlord.
Exceptions
Disabled children
If you have a disabled child who cannot share a bedroom, we may be able to allow you an extra bedroom when working out your Housing Benefit.
You need to give us information about the child’s disabilities and why they cannot share a bedroom. Your child must get either the middle or high rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance.
Application form (104kb PDF)Link opens in a new window
Disabled Adults who cannot share a bedroom
If an adult member of a couple cannot share a bedroom because of their disabilities, from 1st April 2017 we may be able to allow an extra bedroom when working out your Housing Benefit.
You need to tell us about the adult’s disabilities and why they cannot share a bedroom. The adult must get:
- Middle or Higher Rate Care component of Disability Living Allowance
- Attendance Allowance- Higher Rate
- Daily Living Component of Personal Independence Payments
- Armed Forces Independence Payments
Dowload the Disabled Adults Application Form (104kb PDF)Link opens in a new window
Foster carers
If you are an approved foster carer affected by the size restrictions, you will be allowed one extra bedroom when your Housing Benefit is worked out. This will also apply between placements, so long as you have fostered a child, or become an approved foster carer, in the last 12 months.
Application Form (PDF)Link opens in a new window
Adult son or daughter in the armed forces
If you have an adult son or daughter who normally lives with you, but is temporarily away on army operations, you may be allowed an extra bedroom while they are away. This will also apply to a step son or daughter.
They must have previously lived with you as an adult, and must intend to return to live in your home.
Contact us if you think this applies to you.
What can I do now?
If you are worried about paying your rent you should ask for advice now. If you don’t pay your rent you could lose your home.
If you are a council tenant, please call 029 2053 7111.
Extra help with moving home
The Priority Downsizing List
If you want to move to a smaller property, you can apply to join the priority downsizing waiting list.
We will make 2 reasonable offers of accommodation to you. If you refuse both, you will be suspended from the list and will not receive any more offers.
For information on the priority downsizing list, please contact us. Housing association tenants can also contact their landlord.
Swapping / exchanging your home with another tenant
You can swap homes with another Council or Housing Association tenant.
Help with the shortfall
If you cannot afford to pay the shortfall in your rent yourself, you may be able to receive Discretionary Housing Payments. These payments can help with the reduction in your Housing Benefit while you wait to move home.
To be eligible for these payments:
- You must be live on the Priority Downsizing Waiting List.
- You must have selected at least one area in Cardiff where there is a high availability of the size property you need.
- You must be registered and have a live account on
HomeswapperLink opens in a new window.
Homes with disabled adaptations
If your house has adaptations to help with a disability, we will work with
Cardiff Accessible HomesExternal link opens in a new window to:
- Help you find a property with adaptations or a property where adaptations are no longer required, or
- Replace your adaptations at a new smaller home.
Help with removal costs
You may be entitled to £250 from the Discretionary Housing Payments fund to help with your removal costs.
To get this help you must be moving to a new Council or Housing Association home which is smaller than your current home. Your new home does not need to be in Cardiff.
You can apply for this help when you sign for your new tenancy.
Help with setting up your new home
If you are a Council tenant, you may also be able to claim a Welfare Reform Disturbance Payment. This payment is £250 to help with the costs of setting up your new home.
You can apply for this help when you sign for your new tenancy.
Some Housing Associations are also offering help. Housing Association tenants should contact their landlords for further information.
Help if you want to rent privately
If you get Housing Benefit and want to move to a privately rented home, you may be able to get help with a bond or rent in advance. To get help, you must:
- be affected by Welfare Reform, or have a good reason for needing to move home,
- have found a new home in Cardiff that you are ready to move into,
- be able to afford the rent in your new home.
For more information on this scheme you can visit the Housing Options Service at the Housing Options Centre at Hansen Street (Off Tresillian Terrace), Cardiff, CF10 5WD, or call them on 029 2057 0750.
Where can I get more information about moving home?
The Cardiff Housing website aims to help people looking for a home by providing information about rented and affordable accommodation. Landlords can also advertise their properties, and get information about required accommodation standards, accreditation options and other issues.
You can visit the website at
www.cardiffhousing.co.ukExternal link opens in a new window
Contact us