Skip to main content
Search Become a Member Donate

Housing and Rental Support

Cost of Living Help

Housing and Rental Support

If you are struggling to pay rent or council tax, you may be entitled to financial help. Advice and support is also available if you are facing eviction or homelessness.

New website COL icons (4).png

Updated: 30/07/2026

Get support with:

Get help in a crisis (Crisis and Resilience Fund)

The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) provides short-term support if you are on a low income and facing a financial shock. It can help you meet essential living needs and support you to become more financially stable.

You may be able to get help if you cannot afford essential items due to a crisis, such as:

  • not having any food
  • not having gas or electricity
  • a sudden loss of income
  • benefit delays or reductions
  • under risk of losing your home
  • other emergencies, for example, illness, fire or family breakdown.

Support depends on your situation and may include:

  • food support or help accessing food
  • emergency gas or electricity support
  • essential household items (such as white goods or furniture)
  • short-term financial help in some cases
  • help to stay in your home or find accommodation.

You can apply if you:

  • live in Derby or have a local connection
  • are aged 16 or over
  • are responsible for your household costs
  • are experiencing an immediate financial shock

For more information and to apply, visit the Derby City Council website: www.derby.gov.uk/advice-and-benefits/benefits/crisis-and-resilience-fund/

Paying your Council Tax

There are several ways to reduce your council tax bill, if you are eligible. These include:

  • Single person discount
  • Student discounts
  • Discounts for severely mentally impaired people
  • Disabled person reduction
  • Council Tax Support.

For more information and to apply for Council Tax support visit: https://www.derby.gov.uk/advice-and-benefits/council-tax/ways-reduce-your-bill/council-tax-support/

Housing Payments and Council Tax Hardship Scheme (formerly Single Discretionary Award Scheme)

  • Housing Payments are a way of helping you if the Housing Benefit you get is not enough to pay your rent.
  • Council Tax Hardship payments are a way of helping you if the Council Tax support you get is not enough to pay your Council Tax bill.

You can apply online here or by calling Derby City Council on 01332 640000.

Paying Your Rent

Get help with all or part of your rent

You may get help with all or part of your rent. There’s no set amount of housing costs support and what you get will depend on whether you rent privately or from a council or housing association.

Use a benefits calculator to find out if you can get benefits to help pay your rent

Universal Credit if you’re unemployed or on low income

If you and/or your partner are responsible for paying rent for the home you live in, or if you have a mortgage, Universal Credit may provide help towards the cost. 

Check if you are eligible for Universal Credit

Housing benefit

Housing Benefit can help you pay your rent if you are state pension age or you’re in supported, sheltered or temporary accommodation

Check if you are eligible for Housing Benefit

Budgeting Loans

You may be eligible for a Budgeting Loan if you’ve been on certain benefits for 6 months. This can be used for household items, rent in advance and travelling costs.

You only have to pay back the amount you borrow, and repayments are taken automatically from your benefits.

The lowest amount you can borrow is £100. You could get up to:

  • £348 if you’re single

  • £464 if you have a partner

  • £812 if you or your partner claim Child Benefit

Check if you’re eligible for a Budgeting Loan

Paying Your Mortgage

If you’re behind with your mortgage payments, you’re in ‘arrears’ - this means you owe money to your mortgage provider. 

You need to agree with your mortgage provider a way to pay back what you owe. If you don’t, your mortgage provider might take you to court and try to take your home. They should only do this after exploring all other options with you.

Try to pay as much as you can, even if it’s not the full amount. Your provider can’t take you to court until you owe a total of 3 months' worth of payments.

Get help with interest payments on mortgages or loans

If you’re a homeowner, you might be able to get help towards interest payments on:

  • your mortgage
  • loans you’ve taken out for certain repairs and improvements to your home
  • This help is called Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI).

It’s paid as a loan, which you’ll need to repay with interest when you sell or transfer ownership of your home (unless you’re moving the loan to another property).

You usually need to be getting, or treated as getting, a qualifying benefit to get SMI.

There’s no guarantee that you’ll get SMI for a mortgage or loan you take out.

SMI cannot help you pay:

  • the amount you borrowed - only the interest on your mortgage
  • anything towards insurance policies you have
  • missed mortgage payments (arrears)

Check if you’re eligible for the Support for Mortgage Interest scheme

 

Worried about being evicted or homeless?

Avoid eviction

Are you living in a privately rented home and facing eviction or having trouble with your tenancy? Derby Homes provides free, impartial help and advice to resolve issues with your tenancy. They aim to work with your landlord to help prevent you from becoming homeless.

For more information visit: https://www.derbyhomes.org/advice-support/avoid-eviction/

Housing Options

If you are homeless, threatened with homelessness, or need advice about your housing situation, the Housing Options team at Derby City Council can help. You can contact them by calling 01332 888777 or emailing: housing.options@derby.gov.uk

For more information visit: https://www.derby.gov.uk/housing/homelessness/

Direct Help & Advice (DHA)

DHA  provides free specialist advice, advocacy, and representation for families and individuals facing crisis, to prevent and alleviate homelessness, debt, and housing difficulty. You can contact them by calling 01332 287850 or emailing: info@dhadvice.org

For more information visit: https://www.dhadvice.org/