An essential criterion for defining the scope of a housing allowance is the existence of a qualifying means-test for the benefit. They includes rent benefit, a current means-tested transfer granted by a public authority to tenants, temporarily or on a longterm basis, to help with rent costs; benefit to owner-occupiers: a means-tested transfer by a public authority to owner-occupiers to alleviate their current housing costs: in practice often help with paying mortgages and/or interest. They exclude social housing policy organised through the fiscal system (that is, tax benefits) and all capital transfers (in particular investment grants).