LHA (Local Housing Allowance) Question

tbs152

Hi everyone

I am about to move into a one bed flat and was looking at the Local Housing Allowance website.

I am 25, single, and according to the site my local authority 'rate' is £89.

The weekly rent for the place I am looking to rent is £110 a week.

Does this mean I would be entitled to the £89 in rent subsidy? I am very new at this!

Thanks in advance.

dmg24

You are entitled to up to £89, depending on what income you have.

tbs152

I see, my annual income is around £20,000 before tax, does that affect anything?

dmg24

You will not be entitled to any LHA on that income.

tbs152

Ok, thanks a lot.

Jowo_2

You have a weekly net salary of around £300 per week. With good budgeting, you should be able to afford to spend a third of it on rent, though a lower percentage of your basic living costs is a better idea.

Download the budget planner spreadsheet on the free tools section of this website so you can better model your income and expenses and gather the true cost of renting - council tax, energy, water, insurance, telecoms/internet, groceries, travel, etc.

Find a studio flat, cheaper 1 bed or a nice room in a house share if it looks like this property is going to consume the majority of your income.

You were also enquiring whether you were eligible for working tax credits, too. Your salary pretty much rules you out of any means tested benefits - the entitled to website is a good place to check for everything.

Do you have debt problems or something?

tbs152

Nope, no debt problems - I'm just a skinflint and am trying to get the deposit & first month's rent together, and thought I'd check if I was entitled to anything.

Thanks for your replies everyone.