Local Housing Allowance Rates
A table of Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates will be published on this site each month showing the maximum amount payable for each number of bedrooms. To use this information, first determine your room requirements and then look up the appropriate category on the table below. Local Housing Allowance refers to different categories of allowance which relate to different sizes of property. We will decide how many rooms, according to the Housing Benefit rules, you will need. Tenants with similar circumstances are entitled to the same category of LHA. If the rent you pay is less than the allowance you can keep the difference up to a maximum of £15 per week. The category that you are entitled to depends on the number of occupiers within your household. One bedroom shall be allowed for each of the following categories of occupier (and each occupier shall come within only the first category which applies to them): The allowances are set by The Rent Service each month and can be found on their website Room Requirements
.
Examples:
| Household | Bedrooms | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Couple with boy and girl aged 1 and 6 | 2 | C |
| Single person with sons aged 9 and 11 | 2 | C |
| Couple with boy and girl aged 9 and 11 | 3 | D |
| Couple with sons aged 9 and 15 and daughter aged 7 | 3 | D |
Current LHA Rates: September 2008
Figures valid from for 01 September - 30 September.
Please note: these rates will only apply to the month in which you claim i.e. April rates will only apply to claims received in April. The rate set will generally apply to your claim for a period of one year. The LHA rates are set by The Rent Service and not by the Borough of Poole.
| Household entitlement | Weekly | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| A: One bedroom, shared accomodation level | £66.46 | £287.99 |
| B: One bedroom, self-contained level | £126.92 | £549.99 |
| C: Two bedroom level | £160.38 | £694.98 |
| D: Three bedroom level | £190.38 | £824.98 |
| E: Four bedroom level | £253.85 | £1,100.02 |
| F: Five bedroom level | £311.54 | £1,350.01 |
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