housing benefit and new baby question

magiksen

Hi everyone,
Just a quick question about housing benefit:
When my daughter's born in January I will be entitled to a three bed property.
The house i am renting privately is infested with rats and very damp with black mould.
I want to move to a three bed now and pay the difference in rent until she's born.
Would the LHA rate increase automatically once she's born or will they carry on paying the old rate for a two bed which is what I am currently entitled to?
I'm guessing I would make a new claim for the same property once the baby is born for the new rate?

Thanks

DX2

It is your job to inform them of any changes in your circumstances, so once you have your child in Jan, you inform them.

magiksen

thanks DX2, of course i would inform them - im just wondering if they would pay the higher rate or say that because my tenancy has already begun in the new property with the rate of a two bed then it has to stay that way?

Jowo_2

magiksen wrote: »

...im just wondering if they would pay the higher rate or say that because my tenancy has already begun in the new property with the rate of a two bed then it has to stay that way?

No, a person's tenancy start date does not influence the rate of LHA they are due which will still be calculated according to a person's circumstances, such as the size of property they are eligible for due to their household size (number of adults, children and ages) and the income they have.

Do remember that there is a govt push to cut down on the national LHA bill so make sure you understand any potential future impact on this. For example, the proposal that the broad rental market rates will be based on the 30th percentile rather than the 50th as now (meaning they will be based on the bottom third of local rents rather than the average), plus the proposal that those on JSA for a year + will have their LHA reduced by 10%.

http://www.voa.gov.uk/lhadirect/lha-emergency-budget-news-2010.htm

don't get yourself locked into a tenancy whose difference between LHA and the rent due to the landlord will make you struggle.