Local Housing Allowance Advice Knowledge!!!!

adamf133

First post ive done on this but just to explain the situation.

Basically up untill last month i have been working full time, got the sack due to credit crunch, and have been homeless since(long story). staying at hostels since, i have been to the local council for housing who have told me i would not get even on the list as i am not in (priority need) as im a straight, single, british male basically seeming as how the criteria is set out for council housing by thats another story!!they advised me on hostels and LHA then on my own.
Anyhows i live in central london and have just turned 25, i have done research on the LHA website and my allowance is £365 per week for this area, 1bed rate as over 25.
thats nearly 20k a year just on rent alone? and i have looked at housing websites and properties even less say £300-340 and all seem nice places in good areas which i would like to live in and get out of my situation, as i still have money left from when i was working to just about scrape a deposit,
and then be able to afford a nice place with a lha of £365 p week.
just worried if for some reason the tennant wont take me because on lha.i have not made any enquires yet however every property i have seen in this price range is v nice! even more so obviously compared to the hostel i am in now!
plus would i even have to tell the landlord as long as he gets his money ?
many thanks! like i say i am homeless and this seems like a opportunity i have to take with both hands before i end up stuck and broken in a hostel for the rest of my life unable to escape!!
p.s something i found interesting with my www.entitledto.co.uk calculations, with the £365 LHA i would have to be earning over 45K to not recieve any help at all towards a place here.

cheers for any advice guys

PasturesNew

Pick somewhere you'd be prepared to pay for if you were working. That way you won't be trapping yourself into a benefits trap where your rent is too high for what you can earn.

You will have problems finding somebody that will take LHA. On the other hand, some other landlords might be looking for people on LHA as they can get more than their property is really worth.

The landlord will probably want to take up an employer's reference, so you can try lying but might get caught out like that.

socrates

adamf133 wrote: »

First post ive done on this but just to explain the situation.

Basically up untill last month i have been working full time, got the sack due to credit crunch, and have been homeless since(long story). staying at hostels since, i have been to the local council for housing who have told me i would not get even on the list as i am not in (priority need) as im a straight, single, british male basically seeming as how the criteria is set out for council housing by thats another story!!they advised me on hostels and LHA then on my own.
Anyhows i live in central london and have just turned 25, i have done research on the LHA website and my allowance is £365 per week for this area, 1bed rate as over 25.
thats nearly 20k a year just on rent alone? and i have looked at housing websites and properties even less say £300-340 and all seem nice places in good areas which i would like to live in and get out of my situation, as i still have money left from when i was working to just about scrape a deposit,
and then be able to afford a nice place with a lha of £365 p week.
just worried if for some reason the tennant wont take me because on lha.i have not made any enquires yet however every property i have seen in this price range is v nice! even more so obviously compared to the hostel i am in now!
plus would i even have to tell the landlord as long as he gets his money ?
many thanks! like i say i am homeless and this seems like a opportunity i have to take with both hands before i end up stuck and broken in a hostel for the rest of my life unable to escape!!
p.s something i found interesting with my www.entitledto.co.uk calculations, with the £365 LHA i would have to be earning over 45K to not recieve any help at all towards a place here.

cheers for any advice guys

My specialist subject LHA having spent the last few months in and out of HB Office with various tenants.

Firstly the BIG drawback of LHA is that it is paid to the tenant NOT the LL. On this basis LL's are not that interested in taking on LHA claimants - you cannot ask for it to be paid to the LL directly. You would not fit the criteria for this.

In your particular situation I would advise one of two things

- go for a decent studio flat rather than a one bedroom - more likely to find a LL willing to accept you - with your budget you may also be entitled to have £15 a week from the allowance if you get the rent cheaper than your allowance.

- go for a one bedroom but make sure you have a months deposit and months rent up front to make the LL feel you are a safer bet

Do not fall into the trap of thinking 'I have £20k of rent being paid - whats the point of working'

I have a friend who takes LHA claimants in Central London - you can PM me if you like