Eligible accommodation
You can get HB to help pay the rent – eg, to a private landlord, local authority, housing association or co-operative. It is not essential for you to have a written tenancy agreement; it could be verbal. In some circumstances you cannot get HB – eg, if:
1Reg 9 HB Regs•you live with and pay rent to your parents, a sister or brother, or a son or daughter (including in-laws, partners and step-relatives);
•you pay rent to someone (who might be a relative or friend), but your tenancy is not on a commercial basis. This rule often prevents people getting HB if they live in a property owned by their parents. It is possible, however, to get HB in these circumstances if the tenancy is a commercial one. If this applies to you, get advice;
•your tenancy was contrived in order to try to get HB;
•you pay rent to an ex-partner with whom you used to share the home in which you now live.