Housing - rent determination

If you are thinking of renting from a landlord other than the council or a Housing Association, we have to ask the Rent Service if the rent you are paying is reasonable.

The Rent Service will tell us how much rent your property is worth and what the typical rent is for the same type of property in your area. We then use the rent figures the Rent Service give us in your assessment.

A Pre-Tenancy Determination (PTD) enables a prospective tenant and the landlord to have an idea of the maximum rent which is likely to be used to calculate HB before they sign a tenancy agreement.

We recommend that everyone thinking of renting privately should request a Pre-tenancy determination.

Any customer can request a PTD form providing that they are considering renting from a private landlord or they are already renting from a private landlord and are negotiating a new tenancy, and subsequently are likely to make a claim for HB.

To download a Pre-Tenancy Determination application form please click here.

The landlord must sign the PTD application to show they consent. LA tenants and Housing Association tenants needn't request a PTD as the rent amount is already classed as being a 'fair rent' and the LA can award maximum benefit in both these cases.

The Rent officer will make any relevant determination and send a copy of the decision to the LA, the prospective tenant and the landlord.  The determination remains valid as with a full determination.

The application for the PTD must, by legal requirement, be made to the Rent Service within TWO working days of receipt by the Local Authority.