Housing Benefit

andystephens

Hi all,

Currently renting 2 bed property and claiming HB to help towards the rent. It is now getting to small so started looking for bigger 2/3 bed properties. Of course they are going to be more money, would the council increase the amount to make up the difference (I know there is a limit)

thanks

McKneff

They will house you to your needs, how many people are living in the house now.

andystephens

me and the wife, and a 10 month old. we have plans for more. if we cant get 3 bed, then we will find bigger 2 bed but will the council help with the increase?

mildred1978

andystephens wrote: »

me and the wife, and a 10 month old. we have plans for more. if we cant get 3 bed, then we will find bigger 2 bed but will the council help with the increase?

I certainly hope not!

Bradden

Interesting thread.. it's only a matter of time before it gets pounced on by the trolls I suspect.

McKneff

You have enough for your needs.

If you want a bigger house, then that is your choice so No, they will not pay the extra because you dont need a bigger house at the moment.

andystephens

i do mean a bigger 2 bedroom property, as the second bedroom is tiny and only a small garden. getting a bigger 2 bedroom may mean a slight increase, i wondered if they could help.

mildred1978

andystephens wrote: »

i do mean a bigger 2 bedroom property, as the second bedroom is tiny and only a small garden. getting a bigger 2 bedroom may mean a slight increase, i wondered if they could help.

Up to their 2 bed maximum, yes.

You'll have to top up the rest.

Your second bedroom has 1 small child in it, and nobody needs a big garden.

WestonDave

If you look on your council website you should see guidance as to what size property they deem suitable for your needs - lets say a 2 bedroom place. There will then be a table which shows what they will pay in LHA (housing benefit) for a 2 bed property in your area.

Long gone are the days when they would pay whatever rent you were paying - now there is a fixed amount for your needs, and if your rent is more you have to pay the balance and I think if your rent is lower you get to keep some at least of the surplus.

Dunroamin

WestonDave wrote: »

If you look on your council website you should see guidance as to what size property they deem suitable for your needs - lets say a 2 bedroom place. There will then be a table which shows what they will pay in LHA (housing benefit) for a 2 bed property in your area.

Long gone are the days when they would pay whatever rent you were paying - now there is a fixed amount for your needs, and if your rent is more you have to pay the balance and I think if your rent is lower you get to keep some at least of the surplus.

Not any more.

BigAunty

You can live in any cost or size property you like so long as you can find a landlord willing to let you rent one that exceeds your LHA rate and can make up the difference from your other income.

See the Direct Gov website for the rate for a 2 bedroom property (which is the rate you are currently permitted, no allowance for future plans) and its up to you to find a property at that rate or top-up the difference to the actual rent from your existing income.

If you have employment income or capital over 6k (investments/savings) then the Turn2us online benefit calculator will take this into account when seeing how much of the maximum rate you will get.

The rent charged by the landlord is totally irrelevant to how your LHA is calculated so if the next property is slightly more expensive but is actually above what LHA you are due,it won't be met.

The way LHA is calculated is that it is based on the cheapest third of local market rents (known as the 30th percentile). A year or two ago it was based on average or median market rents (50th percentile) so there is a lot less properties within a LHA claimants budget now, 20% less.