How is LHA worked out?

Local Housing Allowance is based on the number of bedrooms your household needs and the area you live in.

The number of bedrooms you need

The Local Housing Allowance is a flat rate housing allowance, the number of people who live with you is used to determine how many bedrooms you need.
One bedroom is allowed for:

• every adult couple
• any other adult aged 16 or over
• any two children regardless of sex aged under age 10
• any two children of the same sex aged under 16
• Any other child

The number of any additional rooms are ignored for the purpose of this calculation.

The area you live in

The Valuation Office Agency has divided the country into broad rental market areas (BRMAs), in North Norfolk there are 3 Broad Rental Market Areas. To locate which area you are in you will need to know the postcode of the property.

The Local Housing Allowance rate will be based on the same amount wherever you live within your broad rental market area, this means that people with the same circumstances will be entitled to the same rate of LHA. It is intended that tenants will then have the choice to trade between the quality and the price of their accommodation.

If the actual rent you are charged is less than the Local Housing Allowance figure for the type of property you need, your maximum benefit award will not exceed your rental charge. However, if your actual rent charge is greater than the Local Housing Allowance figure, you will have to pay the difference.

To find out how many bedrooms you need or to find out the Broad Rental Market Area you live in and the current rate of Local Housing Allowance please visit the LHA Direct website.