Housing costs evidence for UC

Please can I ask a question regarding housing costs when applying for UC, migrating from ESA.

I am migrating from ESA and in receipt of housing benefit for 10 years. When providing evidence for the housing costs part of the UC application, proof of housing tenancy agreement is needed.

I rent from a private landlord. I have a couple of original tenancy agreements from 2014, and since then, have received letters from my landlord with various rent increase requests over the years.

Is it acceptable enough when doing the UC application, to provide the recent rent increase letter (showing the current rent)? And then the original tenancy agreement from 10 years ago? I do not have an up-to-date tenancy agreement. Will this cause any issue or will it be OK? Thanks

Hi All,

I am in the same boat, I am currently migrating from ESA to UC. My tenancy agreement dates back to 2014 as I was on a fixed term contract which became a rolloing contract 12 months later at the end of 2015. As the tenancy agreement is 10 years old, will it be accepted for UC housing element? My property is managed by a lettings agent on behalf of the landlord. To add to the confusion, the last rent increase I had in 2019 was done verbally. Basically, the landlord sent through an official notice just as he had done on previous occasions when raising the rent, we then negotiated a rent which was £5 less than the official notice. I then sent the notice through to the local council not realising that it was £5 over what the landlord and I had agreed so have only just found out that for the last year, the local council has been paying me £5 too much every 4 weeks for my housing benefit. (Before last year, LHA was way under my rent and I had to top it up quite a bit each month)

I have two questions which are as follows:

1) Do UC get in touch with the local council when you are migrating to UC if you are privately renting? (Just worried because there would obviously be a discrepancy between what the council are paying at the monet and what I am paying the letting agent (I can obviously also provide bank statements as proof of what I am paying the letting agent if needed).

2) Because my tenancy agreement is 10 years old, I have asked the letting agent to write a letter whic reads as follows:

RE: (My name and address)

I can confirm that (My name) resides at (My address) and (Address of letting agent) is the managing agent on behalf of the landlord (Landlord's name)


The tenancy began on the 31st October 2014 and now is a rolling contract. The rental amount is due on the 31st of every month is currently £(amount) per calendar month. There have not been any issues throughout the tenancy and no concerns.

Date 24.02.2025

(Agent's signature)

Obviously it is on letterheaded paper. Will this letter be enough proof along with tenacy agreement, council tax bill and utilities bills (am planning on sending electricity and water bill)?

I am absolutely paranoid about the housing element not being awarded due to not having acceptable evidence, therefore getting into rent arrears.

Thanks in advance for your help

Regards.

Hi David,

Yes I will definitely let you know how I get on. Iam applying next week so fingers crossed!