If you rent from a private landlord and have applied for the Housing Benefit, how much you receive is determined by the Local Housing Allowance (LHA).
This is the maximum amount that your Housing Benefit can be. You might not receive the maximum amount.
The governments sets the Local Housing Allowance rates every April.
Rate calculation for people under 35
If you’re single and under 35, you’ll only qualify for the Local Housing Allowance rate for shared accommodation.
This rate is based on you having sole use of a bedroom or bedsit and shared use of some or all facilities. Facilities can include a kitchen, living room, bathroom and toilet.
This does not apply if:
- you have a partner
- you’re getting Child Benefit for a child in your care
- you get middle or higher rate care component of Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment (and nobody is claiming carers allowance)
- you share your home with another adult who is not your partner or a joint tenant
- you’re aged under 22 and have left care in the last 6 years
Calculate your LHA online
The maximum Local Housing Allowance is for 4 bedrooms.
If you think you need more than 4 bedrooms, you should look for a property with rent that is similar to a 4-bedroom property.
Calculate your maximum Local Housing Allowance (Valuation Office Agency)
Reviewing your LHA
A review can be triggered by 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
- death in the household
- change of address
If there have been no changes in your circumstances, we’ll automatically recalculate your Local Housing Allowance claim every April.
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, we 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 by emailing housing-inclusion@royalgreenwich.gov.uk