Local Housing Allowance Rates

Local Housing Allowance (LHA) accommodation size allowances

One bedroom is allowed, up to a maximum of 4, for:

• every adult couple
• any other adult aged 16 or over
• any two children of the same sex under the age of 16
• any two children under the age of 10 (same sex or opposite sex)
• any other child

For example, a couple with two children aged under 10 would be allowed the two bedroom LHA rate.

You can be allowed an extra bedroom if you or your partner are disabled and need overnight care. You must have an extra bedroom that a carer uses to sleep in overnight. Get in touch with us if you want more information about this.  

From 1 April 2011 if we get a benefit claim from a family who need more than 4 bedrooms, the Local Housing Allowance that we may use to assess their Housing Benefit is limited to the 4 bedroom rate.

To get a bedroom calculation for your household use the link attached to this page

This link is to a page called 'LHA Direct' on the Government website 'DirectGov', with information provided by the Valuation Office Agency (formally The Rent Service). Follow the instructions on the screen to enter your details. 

Important changes to Housing Benefit from April 2012

From 1 April 2012 the rates for Local Housing Allowance will no longer be set each month, instead they will be set once a year. 

The rates set in April 2012 will apply from the 1 April 2012 to the 31 March 2013.  

Important changes to Housing Benefit from April 2011

From 1 April 2011 the rates for Local Housing Allowance have reduced. This means that about 3 in 10 properties for rent in the area should be affordable to people on Housing Benefit rather than 5 in 10 properties. The new rates are at what is known as the 30th Percentile.

From 1 April 2011 if we get a benefit claim from a family who need more than 4 bedrooms, the Local Housing Allowance that we may use to assess their Housing Benefit is limited to the 4 bedroom rate.

Local Housing Allowance Rates

The documents attached to this page show the latest Local Housing Allowance rates. 

From 1 April 2012 these will be set once a year, not every month and the April 2012 rates will apply until the 31 March 2013.  

Visit the main Local Housing Allowance page to see other information about Local Housing Allowance, including our Fact Sheets.