Finding your accommodation

You must find your own accommodation in the private rented market. This accommodation should be within HAP rent limits. Your local authority will let you know what the rent limits are.

If the monthly rent agreed with your landlord is more than the HAP rent limit for your household, you must pay the difference directly to your landlord. However, local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that tenancies are sustainable and cannot provide HAP support where a household is not able to meet the rental costs being sought.

Your local authority will arrange to inspect your accommodation within eight months of the first HAP payment to your landlord. This is to make sure that your accommodation meets the rental housing standards.

If you find accommodation in another local authority area, you can contact the HAP section of your current local authority for advice.