LHA interesting

daska

debrag wrote: »

I hope they don't get rid of it as I need it for rent not other bills. My stupid council pay weekly so on a 4 week month I pay £5 on top of the LHA if they stop the £15 I'd be paying £65 which isn't good when on JSA.
Thankfully I'll be working by the time it comes into affect if it does.

I know a local council work LHA out monthly which is so much better.

But not everyone gets that £15 - those of us who can't find somewhere where the rent is less than the LHA have to manage without it and make up the difference. In theory it is an incentive to search for and negotiate cheaper rents which has the effect of keeping local rents and as a result the LHA down. But I don't think it works that well!

debrag

Yes the reasoning for it doesn't really work. Most LA/LL charge max rent to LHA claimants and less for none LHA claimants. I saw one that was charging £78 a week more.

hippy-chicy

LHA is a great scheme which no only makes the administration so much easier it is also clearer for the customer as they can see straight away what their family unit is entitled (to as a maximum). (I know it can get a bit complex for the customer in certain cases - foster children, care leavers, under 25 in receipt of SDP etc etc) But i have to admit I never understood why they ever decided on introducting the top up? They talked about how it would not increase the spending on HB overall yet in the budget they admitted that it was costing too much ! Who knows !! :rolleyes:

Anyway its counter productive really as many landlords cotton on pretty quick... one of our 'well known' landlords charges the LHA rate applicable for that month. We have rents set at £400.01 pcm for a 2 bed ....haha ! He even wants to get that last penny !! :rotfl: