Local Housing Allowence

dmg24

mitchaa wrote: »

Its how you're reading it you see

It was meant that switching over to LHA may not be a good move as you may be receiving more HB than what you qualify for through LHA.

So if your rent was £550, HB paid £480 and LHA assessment says £450 then its obviously not a good move.

(Not sure if this can happen, but this is what i was asking)

It may work against where LHA is under what you receive in HB?

So what you mean is:

LHA may be less than HB.

[Deleted User]

Hehe, thought so, but from what I've read it won't happen to me, as I'm being penalised for want of a better word for having a dining room whereas LHA is purely based my bedrooms. ( I think as I say I don't know how LHA works, hence my post):o

dmg24

Sallylizzie wrote: »

Hehe, thought so, but from what I've read it won't happen to me, as I'm being penalised for want of a better word for having a dining room whereas LHA is purely based my bedrooms. ( I think as I say I don't know how LHA works, hence my post):o

LHA gives you the freedom to choose the size of property you want. You could choose to live in a five bed house and not have any money deducted from your eligible amount (though obviously you wouldn't get any extra!).

In my area there is such a shortage of one bed properties (and hence such a premium on the rents for one beds), that the relevant LHA would easily cover a two or even three bed property (of which there are many more).

[Deleted User]

dmg24 wrote: »

LHA gives you the freedom to choose the size of property you want. You could choose to live in a five bed house and not have any money deducted from your eligible amount (though obviously you wouldn't get any extra!).

In my area there is such a shortage of one bed properties (and hence such a premium on the rents for one beds), that the relevant LHA would easily cover a two or even three bed property (of which there are many more).

That's why I didn't go for a 3 bed because I would get penalised, it's bizzare the way they work it out, I live in a terrace and the rent assesment people told me if my kitchen was on the back of my house ( like most terraced round her) my dining room wouldn't be classed as extra space. T

his is why I can't get my head round it, I chose a 2 bed as I don't need a 3 bed yet, and I still don't get full rent, I really struggle to pay the extra per month and to be fair I only chose this one as it was the people who own it were the only ones who would take me on due to my reciept of H/B

dmg24

Sallylizzie wrote: »

That's why I didn't go for a 3 bed because I would get penalised, it's bizzare the way they work it out, I live in a terrace and the rent assesment people told me if my kitchen was on the back of my house ( like most terraced round her) my dining room wouldn't be classed as extra space. T

his is why I can't get my head round it, I chose a 2 bed as I don't need a 3 bed yet, and I still don't get full rent, I really struggle to pay the extra per month and to be fair I only chose this one as it was the people who own it were the only ones who would take me on due to my reciept of H/B

When I claimed HB, my problem was that for the larger assessment area that I came under, my district (a small town!) was expensive. However, for LHA we now come under a different area, and my district would now be relatively cheap (hence the LHA stretching to a larger property)!

So the district where you live may come under the same assessed area as those that are cheaper, hence the lower eligible amount x

betterlatethannever

I have the same problem as the OP. A dining room.

I've just checked out my local councils website and it seem that with LHA i'll get another £70 pm. Thats a huge amount.

I assume the only way to find out how your council works it (e.g a change in circumstances/a week break etc) is to contact them? I couldn't find anything on their website.

dmg24

betterlatethannever wrote: »

I have the same problem as the OP. A dining room.

I've just checked out my local councils website and it seem that with LHA i'll get another £70 pm. Thats a huge amount.

I assume the only way to find out how your council works it (e.g a change in circumstances/a week break etc) is to contact them? I couldn't find anything on their website.

Yep, you need to ask the question x

[Deleted User]

dmg24 wrote: »

When I claimed HB, my problem was that for the larger assessment area that I came under, my district (a small town!) was expensive. However, for LHA we now come under a different area, and my district would now be relatively cheap (hence the LHA stretching to a larger property)!

So the district where you live may come under the same assessed area as those that are cheaper, hence the lower eligible amount x

That makes sense, I think! but why would they tell me my problem is I have a dining room, as opposed to my area, I know you wouldn't know this, ( sorry not having a go it's just I feel so frustrated it's as if they're making it pu as they go along

[Deleted User]

I've just looked on my local councils website is seems LHA was brought in 4 days AFTER my yearly re assessment:mad: AND had I been assessed under hte new scheme my FULL rent would be met:mad: anyone think its worth writing a letter?

betterlatethannever

Sallylizzie wrote: »

That makes sense, I think! but why would they tell me my problem is I have a dining room, as opposed to my area, I know you wouldn't know this, ( sorry not having a go it's just I feel so frustrated it's as if they're making it pu as they go along

I was told that by having a second downstaires room it could be used as a third bedroom, meaning i was living in a place that was beyond my means.

Makes no sense though when you say that if you knock the two rooms together there wouldn't be a problem (mines the only house in the street not to have done this)