Local Housing Allowance
Local Housing Allowance (LHA) was introduced nationally on 7 April 2008 and is a new way of working out Housing Benefit for private tenants. From 6 April 2009 we changed the way we calculate Housing Benefit and from this date no new customers will be entitled to housing benefit for six or more bedrooms.
This site contains detailed information about LHA for local authorities, landlords, advisers and intermediaries and is made up of the following sections:
- Background
- Local Housing Allowance model leaflets
- Training
- Regulations
- Guidance
- Good Practice
- Evaluation
- FAQs
An introduction to Local Housing Allowance for tenants is available on the Directgov website.
The LHA rate is based on the number and mix of occupiers, and the area in which the tenant lives. Payment is will normally be to the tenant, who will then pay the landlord.
Changes to Local Housing Allowance
In the Emergency Budget on 22 June 2010, the Government announced the following changes to the Local Housing Allowance.
