Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is the way that Universal Credit and Housing Benefit assess what a fair rent amount is for the size of property that you need and on the rent costs for the area. Visit the Directgov website to search for LHA rates.

The rate of LHA that applies to you depends on who lives with you and the number of bedrooms your household needs.

Some properties will have a rent lower than the amount of LHA you can get.

If the rent is less than the LHA rate that applies to you, the maximum amount of rent used to calculate your entitlement to housing benefit will be the actual rent that you are charged.

You may find a property where the rent is more than the LHA you can get. We will not usually pay more than the LHA. You will have to pay the difference from your other income. 

In exceptional circumstances you may be able to get a Discretionary Housing Payment to help pay the difference.