Keeping your home if sentenced

Many prisoners will want to keep their home while they're serving out a sentence.  Whether this is possible will depend on the length of your sentence and whether you own or rent your home. 

You may not always be able to get help with your rent or mortgage for the entire duration of your sentence.

If keeping your home is causing you substantial financial problems, it might be time to think about letting it go.

In prison for 13 weeks or less

While on remand, you may be able to get help with your rent for up to 52 weeks. Sentenced prisoners will only get housing benefit for the first 13 weeks they spend in prison so your entitlement to housing benefit may stop once you're sentenced. 

You may be able to get help to pay some of your mortgage costs while you're on remand.  Sentenced prisoners don't get any financial assistance with mortgage costs. More

In prison for more than 13 weeks

If your total time spent in prison is expected to be more than 13 weeks, and any of that time is spent as a sentenced prisoner, you will only be eligible for housing benefit during your time on remand. More

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