Housing Allowance Expenses

The housing allowance may be used for any expense relating to renting a home or purchasing a home. Some of the eligible cost or expenses are:

• Down payment on a home
• Home Mortgage payments, including both interest and principal
• Real estate taxes
• Personal property tax
• Fire and homeowners liability insurance
• Rental payments
• Cost of acquiring a home (i.e. legal fees, bank fees, title fees, etc.)

The housing allowance can also be used for maintaining a home. Some of the eligible cost or expenses are:

• Home improvements
• Minor repairs
• Utilities
• Furnishings and appliances ((dishwasher, TV, refrigerator, pool table, vacuum cleaner, personal computer, etc.)
• Home decor (rugs, curtains, plants, knick knacks, wallpaper, paint, towels, bedding, etc.)
• Lawn care (lawnmower, garden hose, sod, landscape tools, etc.)
• Basic telephone Services
• Cable TV
• Internet Service
• Pest Control
• Miscellaneous (light bulbs, cleaning supplies, carper cleaning, etc.)

Examples of expenses which are not eligible are:

• Foods
• Servants
• Cleaning service or expenses for a person to clean your house
• Groceries
• personal toiletries
• CDs and DVDs
• Personal computer software

Return to Housing Allowance from Housing Allowance Expenses