LHA Rates
The LHA Rates are provided by the Valuation Office Agency every month and detail the maximum housing benefit a person can get. The amount a person will actually receive depends on their income and savings.
The current weekly Housing Allowance rates are:
| Bedrooms |
LHA rate |
| One bedroom in a shared house |
£52.00 |
| One bedroom |
£91.15 |
| Two bedrooms |
£114.23 |
| Three bedrooms |
£126.92 |
| Four bedrooms |
£138.46 |
A different rate may apply to properties in postcode LA6. If you are considering renting a property with this postcode, please contact us with the details to check the LHA rate which will apply.
From April 2013 Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates will be set annually at the lower of:
• The previous year's rate increased by the Consumer Price Index for the previous September
• The 30th percentile of local market rents in the previous September
A claimant's LHA will no longer be reviewed on the anniversary of their claim but will be reviewed every April at the same time as their benefits increase. As such, from 1 April 2013 all claimants will have their Housing Benefit assessed on the following LHA rates:
| Bedrooms |
LHA rate |
| One bedroom in a shared house |
£53.14 |
| One bedroom |
£91.15 |
| Two bedrooms |
£114.23 |
| Three bedrooms |
£129.71 |
| Four bedrooms |
£138.46 |
These rates will apply until April 2014.
Where a claimant's anniversary date is between 1 January 2013 and 31 March 2013 the council will not review their LHA rate on the anniversary. The rate will be reviewed on 1 April 2013. This is to prevent claimants having their LHA rate reviewed twice in a short space of time.
From April 2013 if a claimant's rent is below the LHA rate, and they have a rent increase mid year, then the council can amend their benefit award from the date of the rent increase. Their award of Housing Benefit would increase to the lower of:
• The new rent charged or
• The previous April's LHA rate
If you have any queries please contact us.
How many bedrooms does a household need?
One bedroom is allowed for:
- Every adult who is single
- Every adult couple
- Any 2 children under the age of 10
- Any 2 children of the same sex under the age of 16
- Any other child
Please note that the maximum bedrooms that if you need more than 4 bedrooms, the rate of LHA used in the calculation of housing benefit will be restricted to the 4 bedroom rate.
Most young people under the age of 35 will have their housing benefit assessed on the LHA rate for one bedroom in a shared house.