Local Housing Allowance — how to find your rate and what it means for your rent
Key points
- Local Housing Allowance is the cap on how much your Universal Credit or Housing Benefit will cover toward private rent — it depends on where you live and how many bedrooms your household is entitled to, not how many bedrooms you actually have.
- You can look up your exact LHA rate in about a minute using the free postcode search tool at lha-direct.voa.gov.uk.
- If your rent is higher than your LHA rate, your council may be able to top up the gap with a Discretionary Housing Payment.
If you rent privately and get Universal Credit (UC) or Housing Benefit (HB), there is a cap on how much your benefit will pay toward your rent. This cap is called the Local Housing Allowance (LHA). Knowing your LHA rate tells you exactly what your benefit covers — and whether you need to find anything extra.
How your LHA rate is worked out
Two things set your rate:
- Where your home is — England, Scotland, and Wales are divided into areas called Broad Rental Market Areas (BRMAs). Your BRMA is based on your postcode.
- How many bedrooms your household is entitled to — this is based on who lives with you, not the number of bedrooms in your home.
The rate for each bedroom size is set at the 30th percentile of private rents in your BRMA. This means it is pitched at the level where about 3 in 10 private rented homes in your area are affordable.
How many bedrooms does your household count for?
As a guide:
- Each adult couple counts as 1 bedroom.
- Each single adult aged 16 or over counts as 1 bedroom.
- Two children under 10 are expected to share, whatever their gender.
- Two children aged 10 to 15 of the same gender are expected to share.
The maximum LHA rate you can get is the 4-bedroom rate, no matter how large your household.
Your exact bedroom entitlement depends on your full household. The free bedroom calculator at lha-direct.voa.gov.uk works it out for you — just enter who lives with you.
Search for your next property on DSSmove →How to look up your rate
Go to lha-direct.voa.gov.uk, enter your postcode, and select your bedroom entitlement. You will see your monthly LHA rate. That is the most your UC or HB will pay toward your rent.
Your council's housing benefit page also usually lists local rates if you prefer to check there first.
What to do if your rent is higher than your LHA rate
LHA is a cap, not a promise. If your rent costs more than your LHA rate, you pay the difference from your other income.
From April 2026, LHA rates are held at the same level they were in April 2024. In many areas, private rents have risen since then. This means the gap between what your benefit covers and what your landlord charges may have grown.
If you are facing a shortfall:
- Ask your council about a Discretionary Housing Payment — this is extra money your council can give you to bridge the gap between your LHA and your rent. See our guide on how to apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment for the full steps.
- Get a free benefits check from Citizens Advice — they can spot anything else you might be entitled to.
- Contact Shelter if you are worried about keeping your home — they have a free helpline and online advice.
Frequently asked questions
My LHA rate does not cover my full rent — what can I do?
Your council may be able to help with a Discretionary Housing Payment to cover the gap. Citizens Advice also offers a free benefits check and can make sure you are not missing out on anything else you are entitled to.
Do LHA rules apply in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland?
LHA applies to private renters on Universal Credit or Housing Benefit across Great Britain — England, Scotland, and Wales. Northern Ireland operates a different system through the Housing Executive, so if you live there check with your local Housing Executive office.
Official source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-housing-allowance-lha-rates-applicable-from-april-2026-to-march-2027