Last updated: 18 August 2023

Next review: 18 August 2024

Spare bedrooms

If you live in council or social housing and have a spare bedroom, we may reduce your Housing Benefit by:

  • 14 per cent for one spare bedroom
  • 25 per cent for two or more spare bedrooms

What counts as a spare bedroom?

The following must share:

  • an adult couple
  • two children under 16 (both boys / girls)
  • two children under 10 (boy and girl)

The following can have their own bedroom:

  • a single adult (16 or over)
  • a child who’d normally share, but the shared bedroom is taken
  • a couple, or children, who can't share due to disability/health
  • a carer for a household member who stays overnight