Reporting countries spend between 0.6 and 1.8% of GDP on housing allowances. Almost all of the reporting OECD countries use this policy instrument, in half of them, allowances are reserved for tenants - and are usually available for private and social tenants - but in the other half of the countries allowances are also granted to households who own their home. Housing allowances are usually means-tested, but eligibility conditions and the payment rate vary considerably across countries.