What is LOCAL HOUSING ALLOWANCE?
The department of Work and Pensions (DWP) is changing Housing Benefit to make it fairer and easier to use. As a private tenant any Housing Benefit you may claim will now be called Local Housing Allowance (LHA). LHA is currently in operation in 18 pilot Local Authorities and will be introduced nationally on 7 April 2008.
Housing Benefit will still be assessed in the same way, based on income, savings and household composition. LHA is a new way of working out the maximum Housing Benefit that could be paid.
Who is LOCAL HOUSING ALLOWANCE for?
LHA is for people in privately rented properties who are on a low income, with savings of less than £16,000.
LHA does not apply if:
- Your landlord is a Housing Association
- Your rent has been registered as a ‘fair rent’
- Your tenancy started before 1989
- You live somewhere where you are provided with care, support or supervision
- You live in a caravan, mobile home or houseboat
How is LOCAL HOUSING ALLOWANCE worked out?
Instead of referring individual properties to the Rent Service, Craven has been divided into 2 Rent areas and LHA rates have been set for each area, taking into account various factors such as:
- The number of people living in the property
The rates will be reviewed every month, and the figures will be publicised in Skipton and Settle Town Hall and on the internet.
Please ask at reception or telephone 01756 700600 for more information about LHA rates in your area.