Looking for accommodation

Housing in St Albans is in high demand and there is a shortage of affordable private rented accommodation and severe shortage of social housing.

If you’re in housing need, you will need to try and access private rented accommodation.

Types of accommodation Toggle accordion

Shared accommodation: if you are a single person under the age of 35, then benefits will generally only cover the shared accommodation rate. In shared accommodation you usually have your own room and share the rest of the property with other tenants or the landlord. This could be a room in the landlord's property, a house or flat-share, or a bedsit.

Self-contained accommodation: this is accommodation that is not shared with anyone outside your household. This accommodation is usually more expensive, and may require additional background checks prior to you renting the property.

Affordability and financial help Toggle accordion

If you are on a low income you may be able to get help with your rent from benefits. Most people will need to claim the housing element of Universal Credit. Some people will need to claim housing benefit, for example pensioners and people with three or more children.

The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) shows the maximum amount of benefit you can receive, but you may receive less dependent on your income. The LHA for this area can be found on the document below.

You can find out the LHA for anywhere in the country by going to LHA-Direct.

St Albans Community Bank may be able to assist with a low-cost loan for a deposit or rent in advance. You can contact the Community Bank by phone on 01727 859135 or visit their website at St Albans Community Bank.

Finding private rented accommodation Toggle accordion

Private rented accommodation in this area is expensive and can be difficult to find, particularly if you will need help from benefits.

You may find it easier to look for accommodation in surrounding areas such as Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead, Luton and Dunstable.There are several different ways of finding private rented accommodation.

There are various websites advertising properties, for example:

Local estate agents and letting agents can help find a property. They are no longer allowed to charge certain fees connected to finding a property. Some estate and letting agents may need you to have a guarantor to rent a property, especially if you are on a low income.