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Local Housing Allowance

If you are renting a property or room from a private landlord Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is used to work out how much Housing Benefit you receive.

 

It is based on rent levels for the area in which you live and how many people live with you.

 

Each local authority is divided into rent areas by the Rent Officer Service. They set individual LHA rates for different accommodation types ranging from a single room in a shared house up to properties with four bedrooms.

 

The LHA included in the claim usually lasts for a year. After a year your claim will be reassessed based on the LHA rate that applies at that time.

 

A change in your circumstances may affect the LHA rate included in your claim for example a change in your household.

 

How much you will get?

 

Your Housing Benefit will be based on

• your and your partner's savings (if you have one)

• the LHA rate that applies to you
• the money you and your partner (if you have one) have coming in
• your circumstances, such as your age, the ages and size of your family, whether you or any of your family are disabled, and whether anyone who lives with you could help with the rent.

Who will LHA apply to?

 

It will apply to claimants who rent from a private landlord.

 

It will not apply to you if

• you are a housing association tenant
• you have a tenancy that started before 1989, or
• you live in a caravan, mobile home, hostel or house boat
• the Rent Officer has decided that a substantial part of your rent is for board and attendance

LHA may not apply to you if you live in supported housing.

 

If you have been getting Housing Benefit since before 7 April 2008 LHA will only apply to you if you:

• change address 
• have a break in your claim

Further information is available in the:

• Local Housing Allowance Leaflet (for claimants)
• Local Housing Allowance Leaflet (for landlords)

• Local Housing Allowance Rates

• Local Housing Allowance: Money advice for tenants

• Local Housing Allowance: Payment direct to your landlord

• Application for Direct Payments

• Safeguard policy

• Local Housing Allowance: Sharing information with your landlord 

• Local Housing Allowance Room & Rate Calculator

• Housing Benefit changes for private tenants aged between 25 -35  (effective from 1 January 2012)