Local Housing Allowance (LHA) Rates Calculator UK 2025/26

LHA rates calculator UK 2025/26 — Local Housing Allowance by Broad Rental Market Area (BRMA). 1-bed shared, 1-bed self-c

Quick answer: UK LHA rates 2025/26: frozen at April 2024 levels (set at 30th percentile of local rents from Sep 2023 data). Range from £400/month for 1-bed shared in low-cost areas to £2,800+/month for 4-bed in central London. Calculator shows your area + property size.
Mustafa Bilgic
Reviewed by Mustafa Bilgic · UK Calculator Editor ·

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Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is the maximum housing element of Universal Credit / Housing Benefit for private renters. Rates vary by Broad Rental Market Area (BRMA) and property size. From 2024/25 LHA rates were FROZEN at April 2024 levels with no link to current rents.

How local housing allowance (lha) rates calculator works in 2025/26

UK LHA rates 2025/26 — frozen at April 2024 levels:

The April 2024 uprating set LHA at the 30th percentile of local market rents (using September 2023 rent data). 2025/26 LHA rates are FROZEN — no further uprating despite continued rent inflation. This creates increasing affordability gap for low-income renters.

LHA categories:

  • Shared Accommodation Rate (SAR): For under-35s without dependents. Single room with shared kitchen/bathroom.
  • 1-bedroom self-contained: For couples or single 35+
  • 2-bedroom: Family with 1 child or 2 same-sex/young children
  • 3-bedroom: Family with 2-3 children of mixed sex/age
  • 4-bedroom (max): Family with 4+ qualifying children

Sample LHA rates 2025/26 (monthly equivalents):

BRMASAR1-bed2-bed3-bed4-bed
Inner East London£790£1,581£1,919£2,409£2,800
Manchester£402£729£901£1,071£1,495
Birmingham£369£633£802£971£1,495
Glasgow£364£579£729£901£1,275
Cardiff£402£673£840£1,003£1,495
Belfast£333£547£673£802£1,070

Note: Calculator uses your BRMA — 192 BRMAs across UK, each with own rates.

Worked example: Single 28yo, Manchester SAR rate

Shared room: LHA £402/month max for housing element of Universal Credit. Actual room rents £450-650/month — typical £200-300/month gap to fill from other income.

Gross: £402 → Take-home: £402.00/year (£33.50/month)

Worked example: Couple, 1-bed Birmingham

1-bed self-contained: LHA £633/month. Average 1-bed rent in Birmingham 2025: £900-1,100/month. Gap £300-450/month.

Gross: £633 → Take-home: £633.00/year (£52.75/month)

Worked example: Family with 2 children, 3-bed Glasgow

3-bed entitlement: LHA £901/month. Average 3-bed rent Glasgow: £1,200/month. Gap ~£300/month plus benefit cap and other UC limits apply.

Gross: £901 → Take-home: £901.00/year (£75.08/month)

Frequently asked questions

What is LHA?
Local Housing Allowance — the maximum housing element of Universal Credit / Housing Benefit for private renters. Set at 30th percentile of local rents (frozen since April 2024).
How is LHA calculated?
By Broad Rental Market Area (BRMA) and household composition. 192 BRMAs across UK. Each has 5 rates: Shared Accommodation, 1-bed, 2-bed, 3-bed, 4-bed (capped). Rates set by Valuation Office Agency.
Why is LHA frozen?
Government policy from 2020 onwards has frozen LHA in most years. Apr 2024 was a one-time uprating to 30th percentile. From 2025/26 frozen again. This creates growing gap between LHA and actual rents.
Can I get more than LHA in my Universal Credit?
No — LHA is a hard cap on the housing element. If your rent is higher, the gap must be paid from other income or savings. Some Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) available for short-term help via local council.
What's the Shared Accommodation Rate?
For single people under 35 without dependents — assumed to share housing. Lowest LHA category (£330-790/month depending on BRMA). Exemptions: care leavers under 25, ex-homeless, severe disability.
How does LHA affect Universal Credit?
Housing element of UC = MIN(actual rent, LHA rate). If your rent is £900 and LHA is £700, your UC includes £700 housing element + you pay £200 from elsewhere.
Can my LHA increase if I move to a more expensive BRMA?
Yes — LHA is determined by your current address BRMA. Moving from Birmingham (£633 1-bed) to Inner East London (£1,581 1-bed) increases entitlement substantially. But moving costs and other UC restrictions apply.

Official UK Sources

Last reviewed: May 2026 against HMRC 2025/26 rates.

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