Local Housing Allowance

Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is a way of working out Housing Benefit for private tenants.

The LHA rate that applies to your household is the maximum amount you can get to help with rent. It won't always cover your full rent. 

Your claim will not be based on LHA rates if:

• you have received Housing Benefit at the same address since 7 April 2008
• you’re a council tenant
• your landlord is a housing association
• you’re living in a bed and breakfast
• you’re living in a caravan, mobile home, or houseboat
• your tenancy started before 1989
• your landlord provides you with care, support or supervision

How LHA is calculated

The LHA rate is based on:

• where you live (called a Broad Rental Market Area)
• how many bedrooms your household is entitled to

Harlow is in the Harlow and Stortford Broad Rental Market Area.

You can find out how many bedrooms you’re eligible for

How much you can get

If your rent is lower than the LHA rate we use your rent and the number of bedrooms you are entitled to, to calculate how much you get.

If your rent is higher than the LHA rate we can only use the LHA rate to calculate how much you get.

The actual amount of benefit you receive will vary depending on your income, capital (such as savings) and who lives with you.

LHA rates for Harlow

Local Housing Allowance rates are set independently by the Valuation Office Agency

The table below shows the current LHA rates for Harlow - effective from 1 April 2024 onwards.