Doncaster Council

A new way of working out Housing Benefit

Local Housing Allowance was introduced in all councils from 7 April 2008.

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 on or after 7 April 2008.

To see information about the Local Housing Allowance Rates and the accommodation size criteria, use the ‘Local Housing Allowance Rates’ link in the ‘More Information’ column on the left.

For more information, please refer to the Fact Sheets below.

Information for Landlords

This Fact Sheet gives you details on how Local Housing Allowance may affect you.

• LHA - Fact Sheet for Landlords

Information for Tenants

This Fact Sheet gives you details on how Local Housing Allowance may affect you.

• LHA - Fact Sheet for Tenants

Frequently Asked Questions

This Fact Sheet gives you answers to some of the more frequently asked questions about Local Housing Allowance.

• LHA - Frequently Asked Questions Fact Sheet

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.

• LHA Safeguard Policy

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 below gives advice on how you may be able to help them to manage their Housing Benefit Payments. Please also refer to the Safeguard Policy above 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 refer to Payment to Landlord Request Forms below.

• Support Workers Fact Sheet

Payment to Landlord Request Forms

Please refer to the information given at the LHA Safeguard Policy above.

If you want to request Housing Benefit payments to be made to the landlord in line with the Safeguard Policy, download the relevant form below. You will need to print the form and complete it by hand before sending it to us.

• Request for Housing Benefit to be paid to Landlord

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, this leaflet gives you details about basic bank accounts and how to open one. 

• Basic Bank Accounts

Have Housing Benefit paid into your bank account

If you want your Housing Benefit paid into your bank account, please download and print off the form below. Complete the form and return it to the address at the top of this page as soon as possible.

• BACS request form

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 below contains useful information about managing your money.

• Money Advice