Who will set the Local Housing Allowance rates?
The Valuation Office Agency set the Local Housing Allowances for different sizes of properties in each Broad Rental Market Area. Every month, they will give us the rates for all property sizes up to five bedrooms. From April 2009, if we get a benefit claim from a family who need more than 5 bedrooms, the Local Housing Allowance that we may use to assess their Housing Benefit will be limited to the 5 bedroom rate. The Rent Service did previously set the rent figures we could use for most privately rented claims but they are now part of the Valuation Office Agency.
