Will Housing Benefit pay rent increase if move?

Crisp_£_note

Hi

We may have an oportunity in the summer to move from our 2 bed bungalow to a 2 bed house nearby. Which would give us more space in a better area closer to ameinities.

We would stay with the same landlord but the rent would increase from our current payment of £550 a month to £700 - £750 a month.

Bearing in mind (if it makes any difference) we have lived in the bungalow now for 5 - 6 years without a rent increase and the rent / Benefit has been unchanged (we are very lucky) what are the chances of the increase being accepted by the Housing Benefit and being paid in full?

I could at a stretch pay the additional £200 myself but it would mean having to tighten our belts on top of an already cut back budget.

Is there a way I could enquire about the Housing Benefit without stirring things up? Its all a possibility stage at the moment and nothing has been discussed or confirmed so I don't want to cause problems.

Thanks in advance

Pigletto

You would get Local Housing Allowance (LHA). The amount you would get will be based on:

1. The number of bedrooms you need.
2. The maximum amount of LHA payable in the area for that sized property.
3. Your household income, capital and savings.

They won't refuse to pay you on the grounds that where you were staying before was cheaper.

You can check about LHA rates for your area, etc at https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/Secure/LHASearchIntro.aspx

Jowo_2

The level of rent set by the landlord is not necessarily relevant to the Local Housing Allowance sum you are entitled to (new claims come under LHA rates)- a tenant can move into any size property at any level of rent but will be expected to pay the difference between the LHA rate and the rent. If you are currently receiving your maximum LHA entitlement and you move to the same size property in the same area, the LHA won't automatically increase.

Check the number of bedrooms you are entitled to and the rate for the postcode on the LHA direct website. Then put your details into the Turn2us online benefit calculator. What is the difference between the rent, the maximum LHA rate according to the LHA direct website, and the LHA you are entitled to receive (based on household income)?

Also, be aware that LHA rates will be reduced in the future with the introduction of caps, the move from calculating LHA based on average rents to the bottom third, a reduction of 10% if the claimant gets JSA if they are unemployed for longer than a certain duration, the removal of the £15 bonus if a tenant finds a property to rent cheaper than their LHA allowance. How will the future changes affect you?