does a study room counts as a spare room for UC housing benefit?

Masha_2

Hi, just to double check, in case UC reduces payment for housing benefit assuming that an study room is actually a bedroom. 
Need to claim for the housing element in my UC account as went into a private renting. I read that they reduce the housing payment if there is a spare room. I suppose that study is not considered a spare room for them. 
Thanks!

Caz3121

the reduction in benefit applies to social housing and not private rentals. Your housing element will be based on your LHA rate for the number of bedrooms you qualify for. eg if you are entitled to the 2 bedroom rate you can live in a 1 bed or a 10 bed and they will still use the 2 bedroom rate in the calculations

calcotti

If you are renting privately having spare rooms makes no difference. Your housing element is capped by the number of bedrooms you are entitled to and the applicable Local Housing allowance for the post code, see Search for Local Housing Allowance rates by postcode or local authority : DirectGov - LHA Rates (voa.gov.uk).
If you are single and aged under 35 you are entitled to the shared room rate, if 35 or over you would be entitled to the one bedroom rate, if you have a child you would be entitled to the two bedroom rate. You can still choose to rent a five bedroom house but UC will not help with any rent over the maximum allowable amount.

Calculation of the maximum amount for social housing is different and that is when a reduction in the amount allowed may be made for spare bedrooms (for working age claimants).

[EDIT - cross posted with Caz]

Masha_2

calcotti said:

If you are renting privately having spare rooms makes no difference. Your housing element is capped by the number of bedrooms you are entitled to and the applicable Local Housing allowance for the post code, see Search for Local Housing Allowance rates by postcode or local authority : DirectGov - LHA Rates (voa.gov.uk).
If you are single and aged under 35 you are entitled to the shared room rate, if 35 or over you would be entitled to the one bedroom rate, if you have a child you would be entitled to the two bedroom rate. You can still choose to rent a five bedroom house but UC will not help with any rent over the maximum allowable amount.

Calculation of the maximum amount for social housing is different and that is when a reduction in the amount allowed may be made for spare bedrooms (for working age claimants).

[EDIT - cross posted with Caz]

Many thanks for the replies.  I have read this. When I was about to rent a property with 3 bedrooms from a private landlord I called Universal credit if that was okay, considering that my allowance corresponds to 2 bedrooms, They said that by renting 3 bedroom they will reduce the allowance  due to the spare room by 14% 

poppy12345

Masha_2 said:

calcotti said:

If you are renting privately having spare rooms makes no difference. Your housing element is capped by the number of bedrooms you are entitled to and the applicable Local Housing allowance for the post code, see Search for Local Housing Allowance rates by postcode or local authority : DirectGov - LHA Rates (voa.gov.uk).
If you are single and aged under 35 you are entitled to the shared room rate, if 35 or over you would be entitled to the one bedroom rate, if you have a child you would be entitled to the two bedroom rate. You can still choose to rent a five bedroom house but UC will not help with any rent over the maximum allowable amount.

Calculation of the maximum amount for social housing is different and that is when a reduction in the amount allowed may be made for spare bedrooms (for working age claimants).

[EDIT - cross posted with Caz]

Many thanks for the replies.  I have read this. When I was about to rent a property with 3 bedrooms from a private landlord I called Universal credit if that was okay, considering that my allowance corresponds to 2 bedrooms, They said that by renting 3 bedroom they will reduce the allowance  due to the spare room by 14% 

Then you were advised incorrectly. To be honest ringing UC helpline for this sort of advise isn't the best idea. They are not trained to give benefit advice and all they do is read from a screen.

calcotti

Masha_2 said: When I was about to rent a property with 3 bedrooms from a private landlord I called Universal credit if that was okay, considering that my allowance corresponds to 2 bedrooms, They said that by renting 3 bedroom they will reduce the allowance  due to the spare room by 14% 

As poppy says - they obviously read the wrong screen!

Spoonie_Turtle

Just on your question (which is not applicable to you now anyway), if someone rents a house classed as a 3-bedroom house and turns one of those bedrooms into a study, it would still be classed as a spare (bed)room https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/housing-benefit/how-an-extra-bedroom-affects-your-housing-benefit/check-if-a-room-counts-as-an-extra-bedroom-for-housing-benefit/