Local Housing Allowance Rates

The Local Housing Allowance, or LHA, depends on the area in which you live and the number of bedrooms that you and your household need.

Wrexham has one LHA area which is called a Broad Rental Market Area or BRMA. BRMA’s in Wales are set by The Rent Officer Service, which is part of the Welsh Assembly Government. BRMA’s in England are set by The Rent Service, an executive agency of the Department of Work and Pensions. Cross border BRMA’s are agreed jointly between the two services. Both the Rent Officer Service and The Rent Service are independent of Wrexham County Borough Council.

The LHA rates are provided monthly by The Rent Officer Service and will be available on our website at the start of each month. The rates may not change every month.

Counting each occupier once only and in the first group that they come into, one bedroom is allowed for:

  1. every adult couple
  2. any other adult aged 16 or over
  3. any two children of the same sex aged under the age of 16
  4. any two children regardless of sex under age 10
  5. any other child.

Single claimants aged less than 35 will qualify for shared room rate.

Local Housing Allowance rent levels February 2012 (weekly)

Number of Rooms Wrexham
Shared Room £65.00
1 Bedroom £80.77
2 Bedroom £103.85
3 Bedroom £121.15
4 Bedroom £155.77

Housing Benefit changes from January 2012: Reductions in LHA if you are under 35

The Government is changing the way Housing Benefit is calculated for those who are single and aged 25 to 34 and rent from a private landlord. 

By single people we mean someone who is not living

  • As a couple
  • With dependant children

From 1st January 2012 single people aged from 25 to 34 will only be entitled to the Housing Benefit shared accommodation rate.  This will mean that, unless you are already in shared accommodation, you will see a cut to your LHA payment if you are aged under 35.

The shared accommodation rate is based on the level of rents for properties where occupants share a bathroom, toilet, kitchen or living room.

These changes will not affect you if you:

  • Rent from a Local Authority or Housing Association
  • Are aged under 22 and have been in care
  • Live in supported housing provided by a Housing Association, registered charity or voluntary organisation
  • Get the severe disability premium in your benefit calculation because you receive middle or high rate care component of Disability Living Allowance
  • Need an extra bedroom for a carer who provides you with overnight care but who doesn’t normally live with you
  • Have spent at least 3 months in a homeless hostel or hostel specialising in rehabilitating and resettling within the community
  • Are managed under active Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements.

If you are getting, or thinking of claiming Housing Benefit, you need to consider this change before you renew or make a new tenancy agreement with a private landlord.

When will the changes affect me?

When you become affected by these changes depends on when you claimed benefit

When claimed When does the change take effect?
New claims from January 2012 From 1 January 2012
1 April 2011 to 31 December 2011 1 year after the start date of your claim
8 April 2008 to 31 March 2011 9 months after the yearly review of your LHA rate.
(e.g. yearly review date is April 2011, you would be affected in January 2012)
Pre April 2008 On your next annual referral to the Rent Officer 

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