Housing Benefit LHA Calculator

Calculate your housing benefit or LHA rate for private rented accommodation. Find your Broad Rental Market Area rate and maximum housing support.

Local Housing Allowance (LHA) Rate Calculator

LHA rates are set by Broad Rental Market Area (BRMA). From April 2024, rates were re-frozen at 30th percentile of local rents.

Look up your rate: lha-direct.voa.gov.uk

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Local Housing Allowance (LHA)?

LHA determines the maximum Housing Benefit or Universal Credit housing element you can receive if you rent privately. It is set at the 30th percentile of local rents in your Broad Rental Market Area (BRMA).

How is LHA different from Housing Benefit?

LHA is the cap applied to Housing Benefit for private renters. Social housing rents have a different calculation. LHA rates are set nationally by the Valuation Office Agency.

How do I find my LHA rate?

Use the VOA's LHA Direct tool at lha-direct.voa.gov.uk. Enter your postcode and property size to find the weekly LHA rate for your Broad Rental Market Area.

What happened to LHA rates in 2024?

After being frozen since 2020, LHA rates were increased to the 30th percentile of current rents in April 2024. However, rates were then frozen again from 2025.

Am I entitled to Housing Benefit or Universal Credit housing?

If you're of working age, you generally claim the housing element of Universal Credit (not Housing Benefit). Housing Benefit is mainly for pensioners and some exempt groups.

What is the single room rate for under-35s?

Single adults under 35 (with no dependants) are only entitled to the shared accommodation rate, regardless of whether they live in shared or self-contained accommodation. Exceptions apply for some vulnerable groups.

What is a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP)?

If your rent exceeds your LHA cap, you can apply for a DHP from your local council. DHPs are limited funds — they're not guaranteed and are typically awarded for a set period.

Does the spare room subsidy (bedroom tax) affect LHA?

The bedroom tax (under-occupancy charge) applies to social housing, not private renters. Private renters are limited by LHA room rate entitlement based on household size.

What is a Broad Rental Market Area (BRMA)?

BRMAs are geographic areas used by DWP/VOA to set LHA rates. They broadly reflect local rental markets. The same postcode can be in different BRMAs depending on where the rental market is centred.

Can I keep any housing benefit if my rent is lower than the LHA rate?

If your rent is lower than the LHA cap, Housing Benefit is capped at your actual rent. You cannot receive more HB than your actual rent (the excess rule).

What happens if I move to a more expensive property?

LHA is set by the area and room size entitlement — it doesn't increase just because you choose more expensive housing. You'd need to cover any excess above the LHA rate yourself.

Are there LHA exemptions for larger families?

LHA entitlement is based on the number of bedrooms needed by the household, with a maximum of 4 bedrooms. Larger families with more children would still be capped at the 4-bedroom rate.