Local Housing Allowance

We use Local Housing Allowance (LHA) to work out how much Housing Benefit we can pay for private tenants to rent their homes. 

Housing Benefit is usually paid to the person claiming. 

We do not use LHA to work out your Housing Benefit if either of the below apply:  

  • your tenancy started before 1989 

  • your home is a caravan, mobile home or houseboat 

What you will get

The amount of LHA rate is based on the number of bedrooms your household needs and the rates are set by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). 

How we work out your household bedroom entitlement: 

  • a bedroom for each person or couple over 16 

  • a bedroom for 2 children under 16 of the same sex 

  • a bedroom for 2 children under 10 regardless of sex 

  • any other child 

  • an extra room for a disabled tenant or partner who needs a non-resident overnight carer 

Use the bedroom calculator to work out how many bedrooms your household needs. 

Our district has 2 LHA rates depending on which area your address is. You can check out which area your property is in by using the LHA checker. 

The shared room rate will apply to most single people under 35 even if you live in self-contained accommodation.