Local Housing Allowance (LHA) Rates
- LHA rates in Haringey
- Who sets the LHA rates in Haringey?
- What is a Broad Rental Market Area (BRMA)?
- How often does the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) provide information on LHA rates?
- How often does an LHA rate change?
- Are the rates of LHA the same all over Haringey?
- How many LHA rates are there within each BRMA?
1. LHA Rates in Haringey
LHA rates are provided by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). Rates are set annually and apply from 1 April to 31 March of the following year. The tables below show the weekly LHA rates that apply in Haringey.
LHA rates remain unchanged in 2023. The rates below have applied since April 2020.
| Year | Shared Acc. Rate | 1 Bed | 2 Beds | 3 Beds | 4 Beds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | £113.11 | £246.24 | £299.18 | £368.22 | £437.26 |
| Year | Shared Acc. Rate | 1 Bed | 2 Beds | 3 Beds | 4 Beds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | £147.29 | £295.49 | £365.92 | £441.86 | £593.75 |
Broad Rental Market Areas
There are 2 BRMAs within Haringey - the Outer North London BRMA and the Inner North London BRMA. The LHA rate you get depends on the BRMA you live in.
This LHA map outlines the Haringey BRMAs (PDF, 1MB). The area shaded in purple is the Inner North London BRMA and the area shaded in orange is the Outer North London BRMA. If you cannot work out which BRMA you live in by looking at the map you can use your postcode to find out on the Valuation Office Agency website (external link).
2. Who sets the LHA rates in Haringey?
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is responsible for setting LHA rates. To do this the VOA have created Broad Rental Market Areas (BRMAs) which they use to examine rent levels in that area to decide the LHA rates for different accommodation sizes.
3. What is a Broad Rental Market Area (BRMA)?
The VOA uses the following definition to help it decide the location of a BRMA. It is an area:
- comprising two or more distinct areas of residential accommodation
- within which a person could reasonably be expected to live having regard to the facilities and services for the purposes of health, education, recreation, personal banking and shopping, taking account of public and private transport, to and from facilities and services of the same types and similar standard, and
- containing residential premises of a variety of types, and including such premises held on a variety of tenancies
4. How often does the VOA provide information on LHA rates?
Since April 2013 the VOA sets annual LHA rates for different sized accommodation within each BRMA. Annual rates apply from 1 April to 31 March of the following year.
5. How often does an LHA rate change?
We review all claims every April and use the LHA rate that is set at that time.
We also change the LHA rate if there is a change that affects the number of bedrooms a claimant is entitled to. For example, if a child reaches the age of 16 or if someone who lives with you moves out.
The amount of HB we pay always depends on income, savings and household make up. It is important to report changes in circumstances immediately to ensure we pay the right benefit and to prevent a HB overpayment.
6. Are the rates of LHA the same all over Haringey?
No. The VOA has incorporated Haringey into 2 separate BRMAs and the rates for the same sized accommodation differ across the two BRMAs. This is because they are separate areas which have their own distinctive private rental market.
7. How many LHA rates are there within each BRMA?
There are five LHA rates within each BRMA. They are:
- a shared accommodation rate
- a 1 bedroom rate
- a 2 bedroom rate
- a 3 bedroom rate
- a 4 bedroom rate
The 4 bedroom rate is the maximum rate and applies to accommodation with 4 or more bedrooms. No one can receive a higher rate.