Shared accommodation means you have your own bedroom, but you use the bathroom, toilet, and kitchen with others. The shared rate of Local Housing Allowance is also for single people under 35 with no children.
It applies even if you can’t find shared accommodation in your area and are renting a property on your own. The shared accommodation rate does not usually apply if you are a care leaver under 22 years old, severely disabled or have a carer providing overnight care on a regular basis, staying in an extra bedroom.
It also does not apply if you are aged 25 or over and:
- have spent at least three months in either a homeless hostel; or a hostel specialising in rehabilitating and resettling within the community (you need to have been offered and accepted the support services)
- are managed under the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements