Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is the name for Housing Benefit for private tenants. The latest LHA rates can be found on the www.gov.scot.
The amount of LHA you can get depends on:
- who lives with you and how many bedrooms you need
- the area you live in
- what money you have coming in
- what savings you have
We will assess you as needing a bedroom for each of the following that you have in your household:
- adult couple
- other adults aged 16 or over
- any two children of the same sex up to the age of 16
- any two children regardless of sex under the age of 10
- any other child.
From January 2012, single claimants under 35 years old will get LHA rate for one room shared.
People in shared accommodation will get the LHA rate of one room shared, if they are:
- Single and over 35 years of age; and
- couples with no children
The amount of LHA you get does not depend on how much rent you pay.
LHA is designed to be paid direct to tenants so in most instances payments will be made in this way. There are safeguards in place to prevent tenants getting evicted for rent arrears and to provide some assurances for landlords about vulnerable tenants and those who are unlikely to pay their rent. Direct payment to landlord can be made where a tenant is vulnerable or is 8 weeks or more in arrears.
