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Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is for private lettings tenants. While it helps with housing costs, it is calculated differently to the benefit known as housing benefit.
Most people who want help with housing costs should claim universal credit.
A pensioner who does live with a working age adult might be included in that adult’s universal credit claim. If the working age adult is not claiming universal credit, the pensioner could claim local housing allowance.
Local Housing Allowance may be relevant for:
Local housing allowance does not apply if:
LHA may not apply if your rent includes a substantial amount for board and attendance, as at private hostel accommodation. This will be decided by the independent rent officer.
How much LHA you may get depends on:
To apply, please complete an application form:
LHA is a flat rate housing allowance. The number of people who live with you will be used to calculate how many bedrooms you need.
One bedroom is allowed for:
The number of other rooms is ignored, as all tenants are entitled to these.
If you rent a bedsit or a room in a shared house, you will only qualify for the shared room LHA rate. Please use the LHA bedroom entitlement calculator if you are unsure.
For a room in shared accommodation, a single person under 35 living without a non-dependant is entitled to the standard rate of LHA. However, this is a more generous entitlement than the existing single room rent which is limited to just a room’s rate in shared housing.
The new rate is based on properties where the tenant has sole use of one bedroom, and can use one or more:
Severely disabled people under 35 and care leavers under 22 are entitled to the LHA rate for a one bedroom self-contained property.
That is, as long as they rent a property of at least that size. Anyone qualifying for a severe disability premium will qualify for the one room rate regardless of their accommodation’s size.
There have been no changes to the housing benefit entitlement rules. They are still based on a person’s financial circumstances, and proof of a valid tenancy agreement.
LHA is the maximum benefit you can receive towards your rent.
The amount you will receive still depends on:
If you are subject to the benefit cap, please take this into account when calculating your housing benefit entitlement.
Usually, LHA is paid direct to the tenant, and it will be the tenant’s responsibility to pay rent to the landlord.
LHA is given by bank transfer or crossed cheque.
This means you will need to open a bank account if you do not have one already.
