Local Housing Allowance (LHA)
LHA is a housing benefit for people on a low income who rent accommodation from a private landlord.
Eligibility
If you're on a low income and need help paying your private rent, you may be eligible to receive LHA.
If you've been getting Housing Benefit since before 7 April 2008, you'll only receive the current level of LHA if you:
- change your address
- have a break in your claim for Housing Benefit
LHA does not affect:
- Housing Associations
- tenancies where the landlord is a not-for-profit organisation and provides the tenants with care, support and supervision
- tenancies started before 2 January 1989
- residents of houseboats, caravans, mobile homes or hostels
- tenancies where the Rent Officer has decided a substantial part of the rent is for meals
Level of allowance
LHA is a flat rate allowance based on how many people are in your household. Under LHA, each of the following categories would count as one bedroom:
- every adult couple (married or unmarried)
- any other adult aged 16 or over
- any two children of the same sex under 16
- any two children regardless of sex under 10
- any other child
Additional bedrooms
One, or more additional bedrooms can be allowed for a foster parent, an overnight carer and disabled people unable to share.
Use the Entitled to benefit calculator to work out your entitlement.
North Ayrshire Local Housing Allowance is:
| Number of rooms (as indicated in the LHA calculator) | Weekly amount |
|---|---|
| One room (with shared room) | £86.30 |
| One bedroom | £86.30 |
| Two bedroom | £109.32 |
| Three bedroom | £130.00 |
| Four bedroom | £184.11 |
The four-bedroom rate is the maximum rate that can be paid.
Remember if the amount of allowance you're entitled to isn't enough to pay your rent, we could offer you a Discretionary Housing Payment.
How to apply
You can apply for Housing Benefit on our Housing Benefit page.
How is LHA set?
The Rent Registration Service is responsible for setting LHA. LHA rates are determined by the area you live in.
Methods of payment
Direct to you
LHA is paid directly to you, not your landlord, preferably by a direct transfer into your bank account.
Payment of LHA can be made by cheque. It's up to you to make sure your rent is paid to your landlord on time.
Special circumstances
LHA is only paid to landlords directly in special circumstances where the tenant is considered to be particularly vulnerable and has genuine difficulty managing their affairs, or it's improbable that they'll pay their rent.
Single people under 35
In January 2012 the rules that apply to single people aged 25 to 35 living in self-contained accommodation claiming LHA changed. These tenants are now entitled to the shared accommodation rate of allowance rather than the one bedroom rate.
The following people are exempt from this change and will still receive the 1 bedroom self-contained rate:
- households with children
- households with non-dependents
- young people leaving care under 22 years old
- a person who qualifies for the Severe Disability Premium in their Housing Benefit, Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance
- a person who requires an overnight carer
- a person who has spent three months or more in a homeless hostel, where that person has engaged with rehabilitation and resettlement support services.
Contact
Address: North Ayrshire Council, Benefits Section, Cunninghame House, Irvine, KA12 8EE