Concessions

Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is the name for Housing Benefit for private tenants. See the current LHA rates on the DirectGov website.

The amount of LHA you can get depends on:

• who lives with you and how many bedrooms you need
• the area you live in
• what money you have coming in
• what savings you have

We will assess you as needing a bedroom for each of the following that you have in your household:

• adult couple
• other adult aged 16 or over
• any two children of the same sex up to the age of 16
• any two children regardless of sex under the age of 10
• any other child.

From January 2012, single claimants under 35 years old will get LHA rate for one room shared.

People in shared accommodation will get the LHA rate of one room shared, if they are:

• Single and over 35 years of age; and
• couples with no children

The amount of LHA you get does not depend on how much rent you pay.

Local Housing Allowance Safeguard Policy

The council has a policy for safeguards under Local Housing Allowance (LHA).

The safeguards are to prevent tenants getting evicted for rent arrears. Also to provide some assurances for landlords about vulnerable tenants and those who are unlikely to pay their rent.

The policy explains when the council will consider paying LHA to a landlord instead of to the tenant. This policy is available at the bottom of the page.

The Local Housing Allowance Rates are published below within the publications section.