LHA v HB

wildwestfan

In my area the Social Housing provider is charging more than the LHA for the area. Will Housing Benefit still pay all the rent or could it be capped at the LHA rate?

Morglin

As far as I am aware, Housing Benefit for social housing is not capped at LHA rate, because usually SH is cheaper than a private let.

You local HB office will be able to confirm this, or advise.

Lin

tomtontom

Morglin wrote: »

As far as I am aware, Housing Benefit for social housing is not capped at LHA rate, because usually SH is cheaper than a private let.

You local HB office will be able to confirm this, or advise.

Lin

That is correct. Another anomaly in the system that favours those in social housing.

pmlindyloo

Just to confirm that it doesn't apply if you pay your rent to a registered social housing association.

http://www.hackney.gov.uk/local-housing-allowance.htm#.UxCdB_l_s5s

wildwestfan

Just seemed odd that Social housing is actually more expensive than renting privately. I went on rightmove and sure enough in his area he can rent for £10 a week less than his social housing rent. Looked decent places as well.

Morglin

Actually, our HA rent here is very expensive, and we could find a private let at about the same amount, but we do have security of tenure here, like where we live, and lots of 'extras' like video entry phone, burglar alarm etc., and as we don't get HB anyway, it's as broad as it's long.

At one point, the idea was to bring SH rents up to 80% of private rates, but I don't know if that still applies.

Lin