Exemption from LHA

Spicedpumpkin

Our rent has gone up £80  a week by a Section 13 which is over LHA by the full £80. I spoke by chat function to Shelter regarding this and they quoted below. Which would be true in our circumstances.

"A person should be exempt from the LHA rate if have received housing benefit continuously at the same address since before 7 April 2008. If this is the case, then the case would be referred to the rent officer who will decide how much he can receive."

Does this mean that there is a possibility that the HB would be paid in full, even if its over the LHA amount? I want to send of the increase to the Housing Dept and just want to make sure I've understood this correct. I know it states refer to rent officer 
If not I will contact to Shelter again to clarify if I can get through
Many Thanks

calcotti

If you meet the condition "have received housing benefit continuously at the same address since before 7 April 2008" then HB can apparently pay over the LHA.

HillStreetBlues

Follow on from this thread
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6414564/rental-increase-over-the-lha-dhp-information/p1

HillStreetBlues

Another poster has the same issue as you,  their rent determined by a Rent Officer
 https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6420382/rents-gone-up-and-housing-benefit-will-not-cover-it/p1

More than likely a different council,  but their issue was that the council refused to revisit this year as the council stated it had already been carried out this year.

So yes  the Rent Officer can raise the rent you get but unsure when that might happen. 

Spicedpumpkin

HillStreetBlues said:

Another poster has the same issue as you,  their rent determined by a Rent Officer
 https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6420382/rents-gone-up-and-housing-benefit-will-not-cover-it/p1

More than likely a different council,  but their issue was that the council refused to revisit this year as the council stated it had already been carried out this year.

So yes  the Rent Officer can raise the rent you get but unsure when that might happen. 

Thanks for the link

I assume you mean that the Rent Officer can pay more housing benefit than the local housing rates allows ( I had read that it could raise (increase) the rent LOL)

Again thanks for the link of the other post.

Spicedpumpkin

calcotti said:

If you meet the condition "have received housing benefit continuously at the same address since before 7 April 2008" then HB can apparently pay over the LHA.

@calcotti Again thanks for your help, I just wanted to check before I sent off the Section 13 and a note saying we have had that condition etc 

calcotti

Spicedpumpkin said:

calcotti said:

If you meet the condition "have received housing benefit continuously at the same address since before 7 April 2008" then HB can apparently pay over the LHA.

@calcotti Again thanks for your help, I just wanted to check before I sent off the Section 13 and a note saying we have had that condition etc 

I was just confirming that i read it you the way you did - I have no experience of this.