Local Housing Allowance
If you rent privately and make a new claim for Housing Benefit or have a change in circumstances we will have to work out your request using the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate. This is a simpler way of working out the maximum amount of financial help that can be provided towards your privately rented accommodation.
Local Housing Allowance (LHA) overview
The LHA scheme is based on:
- The area you live in or you are moving to
- The number of rooms your household has or needs
Every property in the country will be included in a specific Broad Rental Market Area (BRMA), which shows the weekly Local Housing Allowance rates for each area. Wychavon District has the following areas:
- Cheltenham
- Warwickshire South
- Worcester North
- Worcester South
LHA uses size criteria for working out the amount of LHA that can be paid. One room is allowed as a bedroom for each of the following occupiers:
- A couple
- A single person aged 16 or more
- Two children of the same sex under the age of 16
- Two children of the same or opposite sex, under the age of 10
- Any other child
- Certain overnight carers
- Foster children
- Certain adult children who serve in the armed forces, who continue to live with parents
However, if any of the following applies to you then you are exempt to the restriction and you will instead be entitled to a one bedroom self contained rate:
- are aged under 22 and have been in care.
- get the severe disability premium in your benefit because you are entitled to the middle or higher rate care component of the Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments daily living component.
- need an extra bedroom for a carer who provides you with regular overnight care that you need but who doesn't normally live with you
- have spent at least three months in a homeless hostel or hostel specialising in rehabilitating and resettling within the community. To benefit from this exemption, you need to have been offered and accepted support services to enable you to be rehabilitated or resettled in the community
Calculate your Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate
Use the room calculator on GOV.UK to find out how many rooms you are eligible for and to find out the LHA rate for the property.
Use the postcode search on GOV.UK to find out which Broad Market Rental Area applies to your home address.
The rate will be the maximum amount that you will receive, it may be reduced due to the amount of income and capital that you have. To calculate your final amount please use the benefits calculator on GOV.UK.
Payments
LHA is paid directly into your bank account. If you do not have a bank account, you would need to open a new account. You can seek advice from any of our contact centres in Droitwich, Evesham or Pershore. View our contact information page.
Opening a bank account will help you to pay your landlord by direct debit or standing order. We will consider paying your landlord if you think that you will have difficulty with these arrangements. You will need to contact us to discuss this, or you can pdf download and complete the application form for direct payments of housing benefit to your landlord (240 KB) .
Exemptions
The Local Housing Allowance will not apply to you if you:
- rent from a local authority or housing association
- live in supported housing provided by a housing association, registered charity, voluntary organisation or a county council (in England)
- are living in a caravan, houseboat, mobile home or hostel
- have a rent officer that decides that a large part of your rent includes meals.
Further information
If you are concerned that you may not be able to afford to remain in your home, you can speak to the Housing Advice Team. Read the Housing advice page to find out what the Housing Advice Team are able to offer, it is important to seek advice as early as possible. You may wish to also seek advice from Citizens Advice website and GOV.UK.
