Council Services
Local Housing Allowance (LHA)
Important changes
From 6 April 2009, new rules for payment of LHA apply to anyone who rents their home from a private landlord, and who claims, and is entitled to claim, housing benefit.
From this date there have been some changes to LHA for people who were already receiving it. These changes are as follows:
- LHA rates is now based only on the amount of bedrooms a family needs (to a maximum of five), not bedrooms and living rooms
- LHA rates are now based on a wider range of local rents than they are at the moment
- LHA is not based on the rent someone pays. But if a person’s rent is less than their LHA, the maximum LHA they can get is £15 more than their rent.
What do these changes mean?
As from the 6 April 2009, we calculate LHA amounts to take account of these new rules. Anyone who claims and is entitled to LHA will have their LHA worked out based on the new rules.
(The maximum rate of LHA payable is restricted to five rooms LHA rate appropriate to the Broad Rental Market Area in which you live).
People who get LHA for six or more bedrooms at the moment
If you were receiving LHA on 6 April 2009 for a property comprising six or more bedrooms, you will continue to receive that rate until your cases is reviewed, after which your claim will be assessed according to the five bedroom rate which is appropriate to the Broad Rental Market Area in which you live. However, we have introduced a 26 week transitional protection which means that you may continue to receive your LHA at the higher rate of six or more bedrooms after your anniversary date before it is re-assessed, according to the five bedroom LHA rate.
Click here for the latest levels.
For further information on LHA scheme email benefits@norwich.gov.uk
