Housing Benefit information for landlords

Visit the Valuation Office Agency website for the current rates.

When calculating someone’s entitlement to Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance, consideration is given to the number of bedrooms in the house compared to the number of residents in the house. This then forms part of the calculation when working out how much help they may receive.

A bedroom is allocated for each of the following (only up to a maximum of 4 bedrooms):

• each lone parent or couple
• each other person aged 16+
• two children under 16 of the same sex
• two children under 10 of the same or opposite sex
• any other child
• an overnight carer or foster parent (qualifying criteria applies)
• a child who is unable to share a bedroom due to a severe disability (qualifying criteria applies)
• adult child in the armed forces (qualifying criteria applies)

Maximum rates

When the rate is less than the weekly rent charged, the maximum we can pay is the Local Housing Allowance rate. For example, if the rent is £90 but the Local Housing Allowance rate is £80 we could only award £80 as a maximum award. It would be your tenant’s responsibility to pay any shortfall in their rent.

If the rent is lower than the Local Housing Allowance rate, we will pay the amount equal to the rent. The tenant’s income and household is also taken into account when calculating any award so they may not receive the maximum allowed.

Further information on the Local Housing Allowance can be found on the GOV.UK website

Room rates and under occupancy

Your tenants housing benefit/local housing allowance may be restricted if the house they live in is deemed to be larger than their household needs. Find further information on the room rates and under occupancy page.