If you rent out a room in your home

Check if you qualify for the government’s Rent a Room Scheme which normally allows up to £7,500 of rental income to be disregarded for income tax purposes.

GOV.UK:

If you get universal credit (UC), income from a room you rent out in your home is ignored when calculating your entitlement.

Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook (for subscribers):

GOV.UK:

If you or your partner get income support, income-related employment and support allowance or income-based jobseeker's allowance, check how the rental income affects your entitlement. The rules are different depending on whether you provide board as well as lodging. Also check whether a non-dependant deduction may be applied to the calculation of your benefit.

Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook (for subscribers):

If you get working-age housing benefit (HB), check how the rental income affects your entitlement. The rules on how income is treated are different depending on whether or not you provide board. Check also whether a non-dependant deduction may be applied to the calculation of your benefit.

Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook (for subscribers):

If you or your partner receive pension credit or pension-age housing benefit (HB) check how the rental income affects your entitlement. Some income you receive from renting out a room in your home can be ignored when calculating your entitlement to these benefits. The amount that can be ignored depends on whether you provide board. Check also whether a non-dependant deduction may be applied to the calculation of your benefit.

Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook (for subscribers):

Housing benefit:

Pension credit:

If you get tax credits, check how rental income affects your entitlement. Any rental income that is ignored for tax purposes under the ‘Rent a Room Scheme’ is also ignored when calculating your entitlement to tax credits.

Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook (for subscribers):

GOV.UK:

If you live in rented property and are affected by the bedroom tax

If you are on HB and you rent out a room, the room is no longer deemed a 'spare' room when working out whether the 'bedroom tax' applies to you (or the amount of any bedroom tax).

If you're on UC, unless the person you are renting a room to counts as your 'non-dependant', any bedroom tax you pay as a result of the 'spare' room they use would still apply. However, the extra income you get from renting out the room could go towards meeting the shortfall in your housing costs.

Citizens Advice:

Universal credit:

Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook (for subscribers):

If you pay income tax

Check that your tax code is correct.

GOV.UK:

If you think that you have paid too much tax, check whether you qualify for a tax rebate.

GOV.UK:

If your spouse or civil partner has a low income or does not pay tax, check if you could claim the marriage allowance.

GOV.UK:

Check if you qualify for any other tax allowances.

GOV.UK:

If you need further help with your income tax.

GOV.UK:

Other useful websites:

If you are employed

Check that you are being paid at least the national minimum wage/national living wage at the correct rate for your age.

GOV.UK:

Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS):

If you want to boost your savings

If you are on universal credit or working tax credit (WTC), or child tax credit if you are eligible for WTC, check whether you qualify for Help to Save.

Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook (for subscribers):

GOV.UK:

If you want to find other ways to save money

MoneySavingExpert has many suggestions which may be worth checking.

GOV.UK: