Local Housing Allowance was introduced in April 2008 and has changed the way that Housing Benefit is calculated. Since then, changes to Local Housing Allowance have been introduced as of April 2011.
Visit our Changes to Housing Benefit from April 2011 page to find out what changes there have been to Local Housing Allowance and how this may affect you:
Who is the Local Housing Allowance for?
It is for Private Tenants only which means anyone entering into a tenancy agreement with a private landlord. This does not include tenancies with the Council or Housing Associations.
Who decides what the Local Housing Allowance amount should be?
Each month the Rent Officer will set the amount of Local Housing Allowance for each size of property, based on the number bedrooms. Due to the April 2011 changes, the maximum Local Housing Allowance rate will be restricted to that of a four bedroomed rate.
The amount of Local Housing Allowance payable to an individual will depend on how many bedrooms are needed to accommodate the household, not the amount of the rent. So any one thinking about moving home or making a new claim for benefit will be able to see how much Local Housing Allowance they are likely to receive.
If there is a shortfall between your Housing Benefit award and how much rent you pay, you must make up the rest of the rent yourself.
Local Housing Allowance rates are published locally: Oxford's rates are published on our website and displayed in our Customer Service centres. Please see below for a link to this month's rate.
People living in the same circumstances will receive the same amount. If the number of people living in the household changes the Local Housing Allowance may also change.
How is it paid?
Payment will be made directly to tenants, who will then be responsible for paying their landlord.
In some circumstances we may consider paying the landlord. Please contact us to discuss it further.
More information
Please see the pages below for more information about specific aspects of the scheme.
You can also visit the LHA - Direct website which enables tenants renting accommodation from a private landlord to calculate the possible amount of Housing Benefit available to them.
Working out your LHA
How to work out how much Local Housing Allowance you are entitled to
Allowance Rates
Local Housing Allowance rates.
Difficulty paying rent
Information for people having difficulty paying their rent
Money advice for tenants
Advice on money issues including some useful contacts to external organisations
Information for private landlords
Information and advice for private landlords
Aged under 35
Information about working out your Local Housing Allowance if you are aged under 25
Aged 35 or over
Information about working out your Local Housing Allowance if you are aged 25 or over
Care leaver under 22
Information for people who were subject to a care order on their 16th birthday and who were looked after by a local authority for a period totalling at least 13 weeks between the ages of 14 and 16
Disabled
Information about working our your Local Housing Allowance if you are disabled
Couples
Information about working out your Local Housing Allowance if you are in a couple
Page last reviewed 24 January 2012
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