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About local housing allowance

From April 7th, 2008 new applications for help with rent will be assessed for LHA. Applicants already claiming Housing Benefits who change address after this date will also be assessed for LHA.

Why LHA is being introduced

LHA introduces a flat rate allowance based on the number of bedrooms each customer requires.  This means that customers with similar circumstances living in the same area will receive equal amounts of Housing Benefit.

How LHA is calculated

The calculation begins with looking at how many rooms your household needs and the average rent for that size property in the area. This is known as the Broad Market Rental Area (BRMA).

Once this has been determined your income and capital are taken into account before it is established whether you will qualify and how much you will receive.

You can use our Benefit Calculator to get a rough estimate as to whether you could qualify and how much you could receive.

West Oxfordshire District Council's BRMA's

The BRMA's are set by the Rent Service based on post code areas.

WODC has three BRMA's covering our area. You can find out which BRMA your property is in by viewing the map available in the downloads area or by visiting the LHA Direct website.

The rates change each month. The month your application is assessed will set the BRMA rate for the following 12 months.

The rates for November are;

Monthly Rates

Bedrooms

Shared

1

2

3 4 5

Oxford

369.15 675.00 824.97 974.99 1320.01 1700.00

Cherwell

350.00 549.98 650.00 750.01 1050.00 1519.99

Cheltenham

273.00 524.98 650.00 794.99 1199.98 1465.00



Weekly Rates

Bedrooms

Shared

1

2

3 4 5

Oxford     

 85.19  155.77  190.38  225.00  304.62 392.31

Cherwell

80.77 126.92 150.00 178.85 242.31 350.77

Cheltenham

63.00 121.15 150.00 183.46 276.92 338.08


The rates for October were;

Monthly Rates

Bedrooms

Shared

1

2

3 4 5

Oxford

368.33 675.00 824.97 949.99 1299.99 1700.00

Cherwell

350.00 530.01 650.00 775.01 1022.53 1519.99

Cheltenham

273.00 524.98 650.00 794.99 1199.98 1465.00

Weekly Rates

Bedrooms

Shared

1

2

3 4 5

Oxford     

85.00  155.77  190.38  219.23  300.00 392.31

Cherwell

80.77 122.31 150.00 178.85 235.97 350.77

Cheltenham

63.00 121.15 150.00 183.46 276.92 338.08



The rates for September were;

Monthly Rates

Bedrooms

Shared

1

2

3 4 5

Oxford

369.98 675.00 824.97 949.99 1299.99 1719.97

Cherwell

350.00 524.98 650.00 750.01 1100.01 1519.99

Cheltenham

268.66 524.98 650.00 794.99 1199.98 1465.00


Weekly Rates

Bedrooms

Shared

1

2

3 4 5

Oxford     

 85.38  155.77 190.38  219.23  300.00  396.92

Cherwell

80.77 121.15 150.00 173.08 253.85 350.77

Cheltenham

62.00 121.15 150.00 183.46 276.92 338.08


How room entitlement is worked out

The amount of LHA awarded depends on the number of rooms needed.

Under 25's are eligible for a shared room rate. The room rates for other applicants are worked out as follows.

One bedroom allowed for;

 

Do it online

Calculate your Benefit entitlement | Payment into a Bank Account | Tell the Benefits Team about a change in your circumstances

Go to My West Oxfordshire for all your local information or view all online services

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File downloads

Application For Direct Payment to Landlord (65 kB PDF) | Bank Accounts (257 kB PDF) | Benefits Glossary (61 kB PDF) | How Applications are Assessed (35 kB PDF) | LHA - difficulty paying (215 kB PDF) | LHA - General Info (257 kB PDF) | Payment into a bank account (54 kB PDF) | Safeguard Policy (73 kB PDF) | Second Adult Rebate (27 kB PDF) | West Oxfordshire BRMAs (549 kB PDF)

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Related pages

Council tax benefit | If you disagree with a decision | The Frequently Asked Questions | The Landlord's Frequently Asked Questions | Ways to contact us

See also our related frequently asked questions

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Citizens Advice Bureau | DWP | LHA Direct | Rent Office Service

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Last reviewed 19 November 2008

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