Local Housing Allowance

A new way of working out Housing Benefit

Local Housing Allowance applies to most tenants who rent their home from a private landlord and make a new claim for Housing Benefit or change their address.

See information about the Local Housing Allowance Rates and the accommodation size criteria.

Please refer to the Fact Sheets attached to this page or see our Frequently Asked Questions - Local Housing Allowance page. 

Information for Landlords

The fact sheet 'LHA - Fact Sheet for Landlords' is attached to this page and gives details on how Local Housing Allowance (LHA) may affect you. 

Information for Tenants

The fact sheet 'LHA - Fact Sheet for Tenants' is attached to this page and gives details on how Local Housing Allowance (LHA) may affect you. 

Our Safeguard Policy

Under Local Housing Allowance rules, we will normally pay Housing Benefit to the tenant. However, because of the risk that some tenants may struggle with the responsibility of budgeting for, and paying their rent, we have developed a Safeguard Policy setting out when we will pay a tenant's Housing Benefit to their landlord.

A copy of the Safeguard Policy is attached to this page.

Information for Support Workers or someone else helping a tenant

Whether you are a Support Worker or maybe a friend or relative helping a tenant, the fact sheet attached to this page gives advice on how you may be able to help them to manage their Housing Benefit Payments. Please refer to the Safeguard Policy, also attached, which sets out when we will pay a tenant's Housing Benefit to their landlord.

If you want to request Housing Benefit payments to be made to the landlord, in line with the Safeguard Policy, please use the attached form 'Request for Housing Benefit to be paid to Landlord'. You will need to print the form and complete it by hand before sending it to us.

Payment to Landlord Request Forms

Please refer to the information given at 'Our Safeguard Policy' above.

If you want to request Housing Benefit payments to be made to the landlord, in line with the Safeguard Policy, please use the attached form 'Request for Housing Benefit to be paid to Landlord'. You will need to print the form and complete it by hand before sending it to us.

Basic Bank Accounts

Local Housing Allowance means Housing Benefit will usually be paid to the tenant. It is much safer and quicker to have Housing Benefit paid into a bank account. If you are a tenant and you do not have a bank account, the leaflet attached to this page gives you details about basic bank accounts and how to open one.  

Have Housing Benefit paid into your bank account

If you want your Housing Benefit, or the Housing Benefit you receive for your tenant, paid into your bank account, please download and print off one of the BACS forms attached to this page. (Direct payments to bank accounts are known as BACS payments). There are separate BACS forms for tenants and landlords. Complete the form and return it to the address at the top of this page as soon as possible. 

Debt Advice / Money Management

If you are struggling to live on the money you have or you are experiencing problems with debts, the fact sheet 'Monet/Debt Advice' attached to this page contains useful information about managing your money.