Finefair Ltd works hard to ensure our clients are satisfied. We give them first rate services and essential information. Our areas of expertise include guaranteed rent, property management, and council leasing. Additionally, we share details on local housing allowance in Kingston upon Thames. If you need help with this, carry on reading.
A look at LHA
It was in 2008 when the UK Government introduced local housing allowance (LHA). It provides a way for officials to calculate Housing Benefit entitlement. This is for any tenant renting private sector accommodation in Scotland, Wales, or England.
The change to LHA made significant modifications to housing benefit payments and restrictions. Most notably, there was the shift to basing entitlement on the 30th percentile of rental accommodation in the area instead of the 50th or median. As you can see, it’s a substantial change. The aim was to make it fairer.
LHA’s purpose is utilising private market rental rates to check what everyone is paying in the area. It breaks up the country into different broad market rental areas. In them they can look at rates for the same quantity of bedrooms in homes. Due to this, it can ensure that tenants can gain similar amounts of benefits.
Setting LHA rates
If you’re interested in when LHA rates get set, it happens in January. Following this, they take effect in April each year. You are able to find current LHA rates, by postcode and local authority, at the Valuation Office Agency. It is the ideal way to learn what you can get for local housing allowance in Kingston upon Thames.
The rent officer produces a list of LHA rates for each BMRA. They also do this for every group of dwelling in the area, from one bedroom up to four. For the LHA rate on individuals living in a building with five bedrooms or over, claim is up to the four-bed rate.
As we mentioned earlier, LHA rates are normally at the 30th percentile for rents. This is for every dwelling size based on market rents. These are the rents paid by tenants who don’t receive housing benefit.
It is necessary for local authorities to publish LHA rates. Furthermore, they must take steps to guarantee that they bring all up-to-date ones to the attention of those eligible. Plus, they should offer info about eligibility and more. We are going to discuss some of the details of local housing allowance in Kingston upon Thames here to give you a helping hand.
How you get Housing Benefit
For those unemployed or on a low income and living in a rented accommodation, you can gain Housing Benefit. It will pay all or part of your rent if you’re of Pension Credit age or the council has put you in temporary accommodation since you are homeless. It is the same if you live in rental accommodation and your landlord is either a not-for-profit voluntary organisation, a charity, or housing association.
If the above doesn’t apply to you, for help with rent, you must claim Universal Credit instead. You will have to claim a Council Tax Reduction separately. This isn’t included within Universal Credit payment.
If you possess more than £16,000 in savings, you won’t usually qualify for housing benefits or Council Tax Reduction. The exception is if you qualify for Pension Credit.
The amount you receive relies upon your circumstances and income. Whether you rent from a social or private landlord is also significant.
Explore local housing allowance in Kingston upon Thames
We know that it is vital to supply our clients with an extensive list of services. We also want to ensure you have knowledge about the various topics that can have an impact on you as a landlord.
So, contact us today if you need any help.
