Changes to Housing Benefit from April
2008
From 7 April 2008 private tenants who claim Housing Benefit, or
existing claimants who move address and rent privately, will have
their Housing Benefit worked out using the Local Housing Allowance
(LHA).
The LHA represents average local rents for properties of a certain
size. Details of the various LHA rates are available
on this
website.
In working out the LHA, we will look at the size of the claimant's
household and whether they share their present accommodation. We
have more information about
working out the LHA.
The LHA determines the maximum Housing Benefit you can receive, but
the amount you actually get will depend on things like income and
savings, the claimant's personal circumstances and those of people
living with them.
Who is affected by the LHA?
Local Housing Allowance affects:
- Private tenants who make a new claim for housing benefit
- Existing claimants who have a change of address and move to a
private tenancy
- Existing claimants who have a break in their Housing Benefit
claim after 7 April 2008
Who is not affected by the LHA?
The Local Housing Allowance does not affect the following
tenants:
- Council tenants
- Tenants with registered social landlords
- Protected cases, such as supported housing provided by a local
authority, a social landlord, or certain charities and voluntary
organisations
- Tenancies which commenced before January 1989
- Tenancies for caravans, houseboats and hostels
- Tenancies where board and attendance is a substantial part of
the rent
How are LHA rates set?
LHA rates are set by the Rent Service each month and are
available
on this
website, at the local service centre and in Newham
Magazine.
Paying Housing Benefit under the LHA
We will normally pay Housing Benefit straight to the person claimed
it, if they are affected by the LHA. They cannot simply ask us to
pay their landlord. We can only pay their landlords in specific
circumstances. There is more information available under
'Paying your Housing Benefit'.