The number of bedrooms you're entitled to is then used to work out which local housing allowance rate usually applies to you. You can use the following information as a guide to work out how many bedrooms you're entitled to.

You're entitled to one bedroom for:

• Every adult couple (married or unmarried)
• Any other adult aged 16 or over
• Any two children of the same sex aged under 16
• Any two children aged under 10 (regardless of their sex)
• Any other child

In addition, you may ask to be treated as needing additional bedrooms if you require a bedroom for a carer who is providing regular overnight care. Children can't be expected to share a room because of a disability, health or behavioural need. You'll need to provide evidence to support your request for additional bedrooms.

You're entitled to a shared room rate if:

• You're under 35 years old, living alone and don't claim for any children
• You live in shared accommodation

However, you may still be awarded the one-bedroom rate if:

• You're aged under 22 years old, and were under local authority care after the age of 15
• You're an ex-offender classed as posing a risk of serious harm to the public, and are subject to multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) under management levels 2 and 3
• You were a resident of a specialist hostel for homeless people for at least three months, where the hostel assists homeless people to be rehabilitated or resettled in the community

You may find our example situations helpful when working out your room rate. 

Local housing allowance rates are restricted to the four-bed rate.

You'll then need to establish the local housing allowance rate. Rates are also displayed in the reception areas of each of our local offices.

If you rent your home from:

• A local authority
• A registered housing association
• Another registered provider or social housing

then there are now restrictions on the size of property housing benefit will cover, based on who lives in your property. If you're assessed as having more bedrooms in your property than you need according to the new rules, you'll be considered to be under-occupying that property. 

• If you're classed as under-occupying your home by one bedroom, there will be a 14% reduction to your eligible rent. (For example, if you live in a property with two bedrooms and you're assessed as only needing one bedroom).
• If you're classed as under-occupying your home by two bedrooms or more, there will be a 25% reduction to your eligible rent. (For example, you live in a property with three bedrooms and you're assessed as only needing one bedroom).

You're entitled to one bedroom for:

• Every adult couple (married or unmarried)
• Any other adult aged 16 or over
• Any two children of the same sex aged under 16
• Any two children aged under 10 (regardless of their sex)
• Any other child

In addition, you may ask to be treated as needing additional bedrooms if you require a bedroom for a carer who is providing regular overnight care. Children with a disability, health or behavioural need can't be expected to share a room, and you'll need to provide evidence to support your request for additional bedrooms.

Exemptions within the social sector

Certain people aren't subject to a restriction:

• People who live in a shared ownership scheme
• Pension credit age people
• People who live in temporary accommodation
• People who live in supported ‘exempt’ accommodation
• People who live in non-mainstream accommodation