30th Percentile LHA change..?

thesnowdog

I've done a search on my area code thingy (BRMA?) which is 150 and when I've clicked on the voa link to check how my LHA rate is going to change the page doesn't exist. :mad:

I'm going to be moving flats soon and am on Incapacity Benefit at the moment as I'm too ill to work unfortunately so I'm worried that I'm going to move into a new place and not going to be able to pay the rent. The LHA rate for a 1 bedroom self contained flat is currently £179 per week, has anyone an idea of a rough guesstimate as to how much this is going to change. .?

I can move into a place that's £775 per calendar month on the current rate but would really like some vague idea of what my options are as there aren't that many 1 bedroom flats I've seen advertised that are less than £750 per calendar month and the vast majority of them are £800. The rental prices in London are despicable!!! :eek:

Thanks in advance for any help, ta! :beer:

Jowo_2

I've had a look at that link and expect it's just a temporary blip, like the server is down or something. I'm not sure anyone here will be able to give you the specific info for your particular area when it moves from calculating the average of local market rents down to the bottom third.

At this person's website, they have published a spreadsheet. Make sure you check it with your council.

http://www.housingbenefithelpline.co.uk/hb/member/content/benefit-changes-affecting-tenants.pdf

thesnowdog

Brilliant, thanks for that mate. A real big difference though, it's gone from £775 per calendar month to £736!!! :eek: Ah well, at least I've got some sort of idea now I guess but it's going to be very difficult to find somewhere half-decent for that sort of price.

HappyMJ

thesnowdog wrote: »

Brilliant, thanks for that mate. A real big difference though, it's gone from £775 per calendar month to £736!!! :eek: Ah well, at least I've got some sort of idea now I guess but it's going to be very difficult to find somewhere half-decent for that sort of price.

30% of the properties advertised are under £736
50% of the properties advertised are above £775

They don't pull these figures out of the air they ask all agents about the properties available and determine what the rent would be of the property that is equal to the price of the least expensive 30%/50%.

You might need to consider a cheaper part of the BRMA.

Mrs_Arcanum

If you receive the new ESA form, fill it in & send it off ASAP. Failure to do so will lose you benefits very quickly. At least while the decision is being made you will still get your existing benefit.