If you're renting from a private landlord we will work out your Housing Benefit using the Local Housing Allowance (LHA)
Update: The government has announced that in response to the ongoing situation with Covid-19 LHA rates from April 2020 will be increasing. The new rates are listed below. These will be applied automatically to your claim and you will be sent a new entitlement letter if this changes your award, you do not need to contact us. We are currently waiting for our software suppliers to update our system so this can be done. As soon as this has happened any new letters will be sent.
LHA sets the maximum amount of Housing Benefit you can get, based on the number of bedrooms you and your family need.
This means that even if you're on benefits and a low income we won't be able to pay all of your rent if it exceeds the LHA.
You're allowed 1 bedroom for:
The maximum allowance for any household is 4 bedrooms.
You can calculate how many bedrooms your household would qualify for by using the LHA bedroom calculator .
The shared accommodation rate will apply to you if you have exclusive use of 1 bedroom and share other rooms, such as the living room, bathroom or kitchen with at least 1 other tenant.
You can get the rate for a 1-bedroom, self-contained property if you're a couple with no children living with you. If you choose to live in a property where you share other rooms, you can only get the shared LHA rate.
You can usually only get the shared LHA rate, unless you:
LHA doesn't apply if you:
If you've been getting Housing Benefit since before 7 April 2008 LHA will only apply if you:
You can find out how much the allowance is in your area by using the LHA search tool or by checking the tables below.
The table below shows the LHA rates applicable to the majority of private tenants making a claim in the period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021:
We have three BRMAs. The majority of properties in Folkestone and Hythe District are within the BRMA for Folkestone and Hythe District/Dover. If the property you are enquiring about is located in or around Romney Marsh or near the Folkestone and Hythe District Council border with Ashford or Canterbury please contact Customer Services for advice on which BRMA you should use.
Update: The government has announced that in response to the ongoing situation with Covid-19 LHA rates from April 2020 will be increasing. The new rates are listed below. These will be applied automatically to your claim and you will be sent a new entitlement letter if this changes your award, you do not need to contact us. We are currently waiting for our software suppliers to update our system so this can be done. As soon as this has happened any new letters will be sent.
| Maximum LHA (£ per week) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of bedrooms | Folkestone and Hythe District/Dover | Ashford | Canterbury |
| Shared accommodation* | £65.00 | £78.00 | £78.59 |
| One bedroom | £100.11 | £143.84 | £136.93 |
| Two bedrooms | £132.33 | £168.00 | £182.96 |
| Three bedrooms | £172.60 | £207.12 | £224.38 |
| Four bedrooms and above | £207.12 | £260.05 | £287.67 |
| Maximum LHA (£ per month) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of bedrooms | Folkestone and Hythe District/Dover | Ashford | Canterbury |
| Shared accommodation* | £282.44 | £338.93 | £341.49 |
| One bedroom | £435.00 | £625.02 | £594.99 |
| Two bedrooms | £575.01 | £730.00 | £795.00 |
| Three bedrooms | £749.99 | £899.99 | £974.98 |
| Four bedrooms and above | £899.99 | £1,129.98 | £1,249.99 |
| Maximum LHA (£ per 4-weekly) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of bedrooms | Folkestone and Hythe District/Dover | Ashford | Canterbury |
| Shared accommodation* | £260.00 | £312.00 | £314.36 |
| One bedroom | £400.44 | £575.36 | £547.72 |
| Two bedrooms | £529.32 | £672.00 | £731.84 |
| Three bedrooms | £690.40 | £828.48 | £897.52 |
| Four bedrooms and above | £828.48 | £1,040.20 | £1,150.68 |
* Shared accommodation rates apply to single occupiers under 35 years of age.
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