Finefair Ltd strives to provide its clients with reliable services and information. There are many different areas we have experience in. They include council leasing, property management, and guaranteed rent. We are also knowledgeable in terms of local housing allowance in Camden. If it’s LHA in particular you need advice about, please continue reading.
Understanding LHA
It was in 2008 when the UK Government chose to introduce local housing allowance. What it does is supply a way of calculating Housing Benefit entitlement. This is for any tenants renting private sector accommodation in Wales, England, or Scotland.
The LHA alteration made a substantial adaptation to how the Government can pay housing benefits. It is the same for restrictions. Most notably, there was the change that based entitlement on the 30th percentile of rental accommodation in the local area. Previously, it used the 50th percentile or median.
As for local housing allowance’s specifics, it utilises private market rental rates. This enables the council to see what people are paying in a location (referred to as BRMA). It examines rates for the same quantity of bedrooms in the building. The intention here is to ensure tenants in a location with similar properties have the means to claim similar levels of money. Another thing LHA aids with is controlling costs.
When are LHA rates set?
Normally they are set in January, with them then taking effect in April every year. Current LHA rates are available, by local authority and postcode, from the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). The rent officer creates a list of LHA rates for every broad market area. They do the same for every category of dwelling within the area. This is up to the rate for a four bedroom property. The rate for someone residing in a structure possessing five bedrooms or more is based on the four bed rate.
LHA rates are usually fixed at the 30th percentile point for rents in every size category of dwelling. This is based on market rents that tenants pay who aren’t gaining Housing Benefit.
It is a requirement for the local authority to publish LHA rates. As a result, authorities need to take steps to guarantee that they are accessible to those who might be eligible. If you need help with local housing allowance in Camden, there are lots of resources online.
Local housing allowance in Camden
Since LHA rates are based on the area, you will have to look locally for details on the housing benefit. In Camden, there are several things you need to be aware of. You can go onto their website to find details. To give you a helping hand, we are going to talk about a few details here.
If your income is low and you pay rent for the building you reside in, it might be possible to get Housing Benefit. You may be able to claim if you are at working age and living in temporary or specified accommodation. Additionally, it is possible if you are pension age and a single person, or have a pension age partner.
Specified accommodation includes any that is offered by a voluntary organisation. It is the same for a charity or housing association. In addition, this needs to be the place where you get supervision, support, or care. The accommodation includes a place for domestic violence refugees and local authority hostels.
With temporary accommodation, it includes any offered by a local authority as well as from a separate supplier of social housing in agreement with the authorities. This is to stop a person becoming or being homeless.
If none of what has been covered here applies to you, the best thing to do is apply for Universal Credit instead of housing benefit.
Allow us to advise you
At Finefair Ltd, we always strive to offer clients the most extensive list of services. Our team even has the means to provide details of local housing allowance in Camden and links like those above. The information is useful for locals as well as landlords.
So, if there is anything we can do for you, please get in touch today.
