Updated October 2026
In short: if you're on Universal Credit or Housing Benefit and struggling to find a home in London, you're not on your own, and there's more help available than many people realise. Councils have legal duties to help people at risk of homelessness, there are schemes to cover deposits and rent shortfalls, and since May 2026 landlords can't refuse you just for being on benefits.
If you might lose your home
- Contact your council's housing options team early. If you're likely to become homeless within 56 days, for example because you've received a valid eviction notice, the council must take reasonable steps to help you keep your home or find another.
- Don't leave before you have to. A notice isn't an eviction. Only a court bailiff can remove you, after a court order.
- Get advice from Shelter's helpline or Citizens Advice.
If you're homeless tonight
Go to your local council's housing department or call its out-of-hours number. If you have children, are pregnant or are vulnerable, the council may have a duty to provide emergency accommodation. Rough sleepers can be referred to outreach teams through StreetLink.
Help with moving costs
- Council deposit and bond schemes for private rentals
- Discretionary Housing Payments for rent shortfalls or moving costs
- Universal Credit budgeting advances for some upfront costs
- Charity schemes that provide deposits, furniture or support
Finding a landlord who'll accept you
It's now unlawful in England for landlords and agents to refuse you because you're on benefits. In practice, the quickest routes are specialist agents with benefit-friendly landlords, council private-rented-sector schemes, and landlord-direct sites. Have your paperwork ready and offer direct payment of your housing element.
Know what you can afford
Your housing support is capped by the Local Housing Allowance for your area, frozen at 2024 levels for 2026/27. Single people under 35 are usually limited to the shared-accommodation rate. Looking in outer boroughs or at shared housing can widen your options.
How Fraser Bond can help
We work with London landlords who welcome tenants on Universal Credit and Housing Benefit, and we can often help people move quickly once their paperwork and any council support are in place.
Browse DSS-friendly properties → or contact us.
More DSS guides: 1-bed flats with no deposit · DSS letting agents · private landlords with no guarantor
