Before the introduction of Local Housing Allowance (LHA), the Rent Service (now taken over by the Valuation Office Agency) provided us with valuations to use when assessing claims for Housing Benefit where the tenant is renting from a private landlord.
The Rent Officer considers the following items in making their determination:
- The level of rent;
- The rent for similar properties within the vicinity;
- The number of rooms;
- The age and number of people living within the property being assessed
Duration of Determinations
The determination will usually run for 12 months unless there is a significant change to the property or the number of people included within the household.
Transition to Local Housing Allowance
If your Housing Benefit is assessed under these old rules and you change address or have a break in your claim of a week or more, you will now be assessed under Local Housing Allowance. For further information about LHA see LHA entitlement and payments.