Local Housing allowance

Oldernotwiser

Chrysalis wrote: »

indeed, but likewise the shortfall is also a noticeable hit, judging by what I am reading in this thread the majority are probably having a shortfall.

Lots of people got a shortfall on HB.

You often find the landlors who don't use LAs are cheaper as they don't have to pay 15% fees.

Chrysalis

I dont use a LA, my rent is higher than the so called average rent claim by LHA. My rent is deemed as fair on housing benefit but would be excessive on LHA.

If other areas are the same which they starting to sound like they are then LHA is a lower payout than HB.

The difference I see between housing benefit and LHA is this.

When they evaluate fair rent on housing benefit they look at the average claim amount for equal size properties in the 'immediate area' not the entire county. So market rents are disregarded they just make sure the claim is not deviating too much from other claimants.

LHA on the other hand seems to be an average figure drawn up from they deem as market rents and its from a much larger area a city or even a county. I have also recently heard they include subsidised properties (heard this year ago as well), by subsidised I mean properties where part of rent is paid by local authority making it cheaper than typical private rentals.

lil_me

HB rates are now done county wide it seems, same size areas as LHA as you will see if you go through the link I made to the new rates. the local reference rents on here the county I live in is now as a whole county instead of 6 seperate areas. The link is here for Lca Reference Rents used for Housing Benefit http://www.therentservice.gov.uk/corporate-publications/local-reference-rents/local-reference-rents-30June2008.asp#C

novazombie

RDB wrote: »

So if they will pay more depending on where you live, wont loads of people start moving to the most expensive places? Then they will get most benefit, there is no point living in cheap place when they will pay more for you to live somewhere better?

Yes thats true, I am looking to moving to Golders Green in N,London because my wife and I have a baby so we can get 350 quid a week, I am looking for a really nice place that I want to knck the LL down to 335 so I can keep the 15 quid on top of my other benefits.

Will this work?

Yoshua

I dont think it will work. They will ask you why dont you live in a cheaper area, anyway you need to afford to pay the first months rent and deposite.

Maybe Im wrong, but surely its not that easy?

RDB

Yoshua wrote: »

I dont think it will work. They will ask you why dont you live in a cheaper area, anyway you need to afford to pay the first months rent and deposite.

Maybe Im wrong, but surely its not that easy?

You are wrong Yoshua, they dont ask you to live in a cheaper area.

There are loads of wasters living in Camden which has a BMR of 540 per week for a 2 bed. They are living in absolute palaces considering they are not working, and then they are able to spend the rest of their benefits on the cheap drugs from the dodgy bloke outside the tube st.

I even know one guy who boasts about his LHA paying for his luxury 2 bed flat because his girlfriend got knocked up. They pay his rent 525 week and he keeps 15 week on top of his goodness knows how much public funds. The kicker is this luxury flat has 2 private parking bays and he rents them both out, his LL is none the wiser.

What kind of a crazy Government do we have where people like this get to live in luxury without working for a penny.

A bit off topic I know but some other couple in Camden who are on some kind of sickness benefit because they are alcoholics actually claim money from the government to buy alcohol ON TOP of their usual shed load of benefits.

Please someone tell me this cant be true..........

Oldernotwiser

RDB wrote: »

A bit off topic I know but some other couple in Camden who are on some kind of sickness benefit because they are alcoholics actually claim money from the government to buy alcohol ON TOP of their usual shed load of benefits.

Please someone tell me this cant be true..........

Rightly or wrongly, alcoholics and drug addicts are often able to claim IB/DLA. Obviously the extra money isn't intended to pay for alcohol and drugs, although I'm sure it happens.

novazombie

Is it ally true that someone not working with no money at all and with a wife and baby can get 540 per week to live in luxury flat in camden?

If the BMA is 540 week will they really pay that, or is it difficult to get?

Oldernotwiser

novazombie wrote: »

Is it ally true that someone not working with no money at all and with a wife and baby can get 540 per week to live in luxury flat in camden?

If the BMA is 540 week will they really pay that, or is it difficult to get?

If that's the appropriate LHA, that's what they'll get. It's a mad, mad world, although I'm sure that many on here will still feel they're hard done by!

RDB

lil_me wrote: »

HB rates are now done county wide it seems, same size areas as LHA as you will see if you go through the link I made to the new rates. the local reference rents on here the county I live in is now as a whole county instead of 6 seperate areas. The link is here for Lca Reference Rents used for Housing Benefit http://www.therentservice.gov.uk/corporate-publications/local-reference-rents/local-reference-rents-30June2008.asp#C

Can any one answer why this website quotes 2 bedroom in C,London as 300



CENTRAL LONDON 2 Bed £300.00


and this site https://lha-direct.therentservice.gov.uk/Secure/LHARateSearch.aspx?SearchType=PostCode


Shows 2 bed for 540 for C,London.

Which one is right?