If you rent from a private landlord, the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is a maximum figure used to work out your Housing Benefit. You might not receive the maximum amount.

The amount of weekly LHA that you get will depend on the level of your income and savings. Your benefit may be further reduced if you have other adults who live with you.

Your Local Housing Allowance will be paid for one year after it has been calculated, unless a review is triggered.

If you are single and under the age of 35, you will only qualify for the Local Housing Allowance rate for shared accommodation.

Find out about Local Housing Allowance calculation for single people under 35 years old

Calculate your LHA online

The maximum Local Housing Allowance is for four bedrooms. If you think need accommodation larger than four bedrooms, you will need to look for a property with rent that is similar to a four-bedroom property.

Calculate your maximum Local Housing Allowance (Valuation Office Agency website)

Reviews

A review can be triggered by one of the following events:

• a change in your circumstances which affects the number of bedrooms you need - for example, a child sharing a bedroom reaches 16 or someone joins or leaves the household
• a death in the household
• a change of address.

Providing there have been no changes in your circumstances, we will automatically recalculate your Local Housing Allowance claim after one year of payment.

The new benefit will be based on the Local Housing Allowance rate in force at the time.

Extra LHA room allowance for overnight carers

In certain limited cases, the Royal Borough of Greenwich may be able to include an extra bedroom in the LHA when:

• either the person claiming benefit or their partner needs personal care during the night
• and they have a spare bedroom to accommodate a carer who normally lives elsewhere.

For more information, contact the Housing Inclusion Service.