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Local Housing Allowance

Rates

From 1 April 2011 Local Housing Allowance (LHA) have reduced. This will mean that about 3 in 10 properties for rent in the area should be affordable to people on Housing Benefit rather than every 5 in 10 properties.

If you move, or someone else moves into or out of your household, or you need to make a new claim from April 2011 the new lower rates will apply to you straight away. But if none of these changes happens and you already get Housing Benefit the new lower rates will not apply until your next anniversary date. You will then be able to get a further nine months' transitional protection in most cases.

Please note: If you are single and under 35 years old and do not have a dependant or non-dependant living with you as part of your household, you will only be entitled to the shared room rate. Single claimants aged 35 years old and over, care leavers under 22 years old and childless couples will qualify for the one bedroom rate of LHA, but only if they have either exclusive use of two or more rooms, or exclusive use of one room, a bathroom, a toilet, and a kitchen or facilities for cooking.

Most properties within the Dover District Council area will have the following Local Housing Allowance rate:

Dover rate for February 2012:

Some rural properties are treated by The Rent Service as being in the Canterbury area. Some properties in the following areas may qualify for the Canterbury rate of Local Housing Allowance:

• Ash
• Goodnestone
• Preston
• Richborough
• Shatterling
• Staple
• Stourmouth
• Wingham
• Woodnesborough

Please contact our @ Your Service Team either by phoning (01304) 872199 or see them in person at an area office, to check if the property falls within the Canterbury rates.

Canterbury rate for February 2012

If you would like information on LHA rates for earlier periods, please contact the Enquiry Centre on 01304 872199 or send an email to revenues@dover.gov.uk

Contact

Tel: 01304 872199

E-mail: revenues@dover.gov.uk