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
• Communications
• Training
• Regulations
• Guidance
• 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.

The DWP has tested LHA in a number of pilot authorities. The rules for LHA for national roll-out and in the pilot authoirites are slightly different.

Details on why the DWP is introducing LHA, how it works and the pilot authorities are available on the go to Background page.

Any queries regarding Local Housing Allowance (LHA) should be direct to the nominated LHA contact on the HB Contacts page of this website NB: The LHA adviceline closed on 4 July 2008.