Local Housing Allowance (LHA)

What is Local Housing Allowance?

Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is the maximum housing benefit you may be entitled to. The amount you will get will still depend on your income and savings. The rate that applies to you will last for one year, when your LHA rate will be reviewed.

If you are finding out about housing benefit you will need to complete the Room Calculator and then check that result against the Local Housing Allowance tables below. You will need this information in order to complete the Benefits Calculator.

The weekly LHA rates for February 2012 are:

Number of bedrooms	Category	Maidstone	Medway/Swale
Shared room rate	A	£65.00	£62.50
1 bedroom	B	£121.15	£106.15
2 bedrooms	C	£150.00	£130.38
3 bedrooms	D	£173.08	£150.00
4 bedrooms	E	£230.77	£196.15

The weekly LHA rates for January 2012 are:

Number of bedrooms	Category	Maidstone	Medway/Swale
Shared room rate	A	£65.00	£62.50
1 bedroom	B	£121.15	£106.15
2 bedrooms	C	£150.00	£129.23
3 bedrooms	D	£173.08	£150.00
4 bedrooms	E	£229.62	£196.15

Which area applies to you?

There are two broad rental market areas for Maidstone tenants which are called 'Maidstone' and 'Medway/Swale'.

To find out which area applies to you enter your post code on the Directgov Local Housing Allowance page.

here are the maps for Maidstone and Medway/Swale areas.

Who does LHA apply to?

Everybody who claims Housing Benefit from April 7, 2008 has their Housing Benefit worked out using LHA, with the exceptions below.

Local Housing Allowance does not affect you if:

you live in a home which is owned by Maidstone council or a local authority landlord;
you are a tenant of a registered social landlord
you live in supported housing
your tenancy started before January 15, 1989
you live in a caravan, houseboat or hostel; or
a large part of the rent you pay for your tenancy is for meals cooked for you.

If your rent is higher than the LHA

If your rent is more than the LHA figure you will need to make up the shortfall. If you are struggling to meet the shortfall or are at risk of losing your home, you may be entitled to Discretionary Housing Payment. Discretionary Housing Payments are generally only for a short period.

Please contact us to request an application form for a Discretionary Housing Payment.

If your rent is lower than the LHA

Your maximum Housing Benefit will not be more than your rent.

Reviewing your LHA rate

We will review your LHA rate every year on the day you claimed. Your maximum Housing Benefit will then be the LHA rate that applies for that month.

If the amount of rent that you pay changes, send the notice that you received from your Landlord to the benefits department who will confirm if there is any change in the amount of benefit you are to receive.

Payment of LHA

Your housing benefit will be paid direct to your bank account.

It is your responsibility to make sure you pay the right amount of rent to your landlord at the right time.

If you do not have a bank account please visit the Money Advice Service website for information on how to open a bank account.

Under LHA we can pay your landlord if:

if you have difficulty managing your finances
if you are eight weeks or more behind with your rent
if the landlord has reduced the rent to match the new LHA rate (from April 2011)

We will make a decision on every case individually and may ask you to provide us with reasons and evidence for why we should pay your landlord. More details can be found in our Safeguard Payment Policy. If you would like more help with this telephone us on 01622 602557.

Changes in your circumstances

You need to tell us if there are any changes in your circumstances. This includes changes to your income, rent, who lives at the property and any savings you have. For more information visit our changes in circumstances page.