Local Housing Allowance is a new way of working out new claims for Housing Benefit for tenants renting accommodation on low income from a private landlord from the 7th April 2008.

If you are currently renting private accommodation and receiving Housing Benefit entitlement prior to the 7th April 2008, your claim will remain unchanged. However if you have a break in your entitlement equal to or more than one week, or change address your new entitlement will be worked out under the new Local Housing Allowance Scheme. This will be effective from the 7th April 2008.

If you live in any of the following types of property, then Local Housing Allowance will not affect you but you may still be able to receive Housing Benefit.

• Your tenancy started before 1989
• You are a Council, Housing Association tenant or live in a hostel
• You live in caravan, mobile home or house boat
• You live in accommodation which is supported and provided by a charitable or voluntary organisation

Other restrictions apply if you are single and aged under 25. You will only get Local Housing Allowance for a bedsit accommodation or one room in shared accommodation.

If you live with a partner or civil partner only one of you can get Local Housing Allowance.

Joint tenants should contact the local authority to obtain the correct LHA rate applicable. As the rate will depend on number of people within the household attached to each joint tenant. We will also look at shared facilities within the property.

View examples of how LHA is calculated for Joint tenants (33kb) (Opens new window)

Calculate your Local Housing Allowance and room requirement here using the LHA calculator (Opens new window)

View more information about Local Housing Allowance here