Housing costs and Universal Credit
Living in a property you own
You could get a Universal Credit payment to help you pay for service charges if all of the following apply:
- you바카라 사이트檙e eligible for Universal Credit
- you or your partner own the home you live in (including if it바카라 사이트檚 a shared ownership property)
- you live in a leasehold property
Service charges include:
- using shared facilities, such as rubbish collection or communal lifts
- window cleaning of upper floors
- repairs and maintenance
Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI)
You might be able to get Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) if you바카라 사이트檝e been on Universal Credit for 3 months in a row.
SMI is a loan that can help towards interest payments on:
- your mortgage
- loans you바카라 사이트檝e taken out for certain repairs and improvements to your home
If you qualify for an SMI loan, you can get help paying the interest on up to 拢200,000 of your loan or mortgage.
The amount you get is based on a set rate of interest on what바카라 사이트檚 left of your mortgage. It바카라 사이트檚 paid direct to your lender.
You바카라 사이트檒l need to repay your SMI loan back with interest when you sell or transfer ownership of your home (unless you바카라 사이트檙e moving the loan to another property).
Help with service charges
You might be able to get help paying for your service charge if you own a leasehold property and have been on Universal Credit for 9 months.
You cannot get help with service charges if you get an income from:
- your job if you바카라 사이트檙e employed or self-employed
- a tax refund
- Statutory Sick Pay
- Statutory Maternity Pay
- Statutory Paternity Pay
- Statutory Adoption Pay
- Statutory Shared Parental Pay