Yes.

This can be done, by completing a pre-tenancy determination or PTD.  A Pre-Tenancy Determination is a rental valuation by the independent Rent Service. This valuation gives you the rent figure, which may be used by the Benefits Service to work out how much Housing Benefit the customer may be entitled to.

When conducting the valuation the Rent Officer will consider things such as the rent charged, what services are included in the rent, the number of rooms in the property, the size of your household, the length and terms of your tenancy and the general level of rents for property in the area. From this information the Rent Officer will decide how much the property is worth in the rental market and how much is generally paid in the area for a property of a suitable size for the members of the family who will live in the property.

If your tenant is single and under 25 years of age the Rent Officer will look at the cost of a non-self contained room (where there is shared use of kitchen and toilet facilities) in the same area as the property for which the tenant is seeking the Pre-Tenancy determination.

To apply for a PTD, an application must be completed by the prospective tenant and signed by the landlord. This can be obtained from the council offices and must be returned to the benefit section to forward to the rent service.