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Local Housing Allowance

Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is effectively the maximum limit of how much Housing Benefit can be paid to people living in private rented accommodation (with a few exceptions). DirectGov provides an LHA Bedroom Calculator.

Housing Benefit falling under the LHA scheme is usually paid direct to the tenant. To pay a landlord direct, vulnerability or the tenant being unable or unlikely to pay must be proved first.

At the rent service website you can search to see which area your home falls into, calculate what level of LHA you are entitled to and see the current rates of LHA.

Local area rates

If you already know which area your home falls into, see our rates effective from 1 April 2021:

Cherwell

RateAmount
Shared accommodation rate£78.02
1 bed self-contained£149.59
2 bedrooms£178.36
3 bedrooms£207.12
4 bedrooms£298.61

Milton Keynes

RateAmount
Shared accommodation rate£70.00
1 bed self-contained£149.59
2 bedrooms£189.86
3 bedrooms£224.38
4 bedrooms£299.18

Northampton

RateAmount
Shared accommodation rate£89.50
1 bed self-contained£126.58
2 bedrooms£159.95
3 bedrooms£184.11
4 bedrooms£234.74

Northants Central

RateAmount
Shared accommodation rate£80.00
1 bed self-contained£109.32
2 bedrooms£138.08
3 bedrooms£159.95
4 bedrooms£205.97

Rugby East

RateAmount
Shared accommodation rate£84.35
1 bedroom£120.82
2 bedrooms£147.29
3 bedrooms£172.60
4 bedrooms£228.99

Leicester and surrounds

RateAmount
Shared accommodation rate£78.00
1 bedroom£103.56
2 bedrooms£159.95
3 bedrooms£184.11
4 bedrooms£205.97

Last updated 19 December 2023