Local Housing Allowance (LHA) - is a form of housing
benefit for private tenants which came into effect from 7 April
2008. Payment is made to the tenant, who then pays the landlord.
Council tenants are not affected by the LHA and will continue to
receive housing benefit.
The amount of money you'll receive is based on:
- The area you live in
- Who lives with you
- The money you and your partner have coming in, including
earnings, some benefits and tax credits and things like
occupational pensions
- Your savings and your partner's savings
It doesn't depend on how much rent you pay. If your rent is
higher than Local Housing Allowance, you'll need to make up the
difference. - this won't affect other benefits you may be
getting.
Why the change?
The original housing benefit system was too complicated, and so the
government has introduced Local Housing Allowance as a fairer,
clearer system that gives tenants a choice over where they live,
and personal responsibility for their rent. The
Department for Work and Pensions (external
link) website outlines the aims of LHA.
Local Housing Allowance links
Local Housing Allowance rates
Please note:
That the LHA rates for April 2011 no longer contain a 5-room
rate as LHA has been capped to 4 rooms from 1 April 2011.
Please also note that the
figures are lower than the previous month, this
is because a "30th percentile" figure has been used to
calculate the LHA room rate, a reduction from the 50th
percentile used previously.
Related information