•If you are a private tenant, your housing benefit (HB) may be based on a rent lower than the one you are liable to pay if it is restricted under one of three rent restriction schemes.

•If you are a local authority or housing association tenant and your home has more bedrooms than the rules allow, the rent used to calculate your HB may be restricted under the social sector rent restriction rules (often called the ‘bedroom tax’). In exceptional cases, some housing association tenants have their rent restricted under one of the schemes that apply to private tenants.

•If you are entitled to HB and your rent is restricted, you may be able to get discretionary housing payments from your local authority to help with any shortfall.