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Local Housing Allowance (LHA) Direct Payment Form Housing Benefits is one of a number of Agencies working in partnership with BARLO
Through the Housing Benefits Landlord Liaison Officer, members of BARLO have improved access to information and assistance with their tenants' Housing Benefit issues and problems.
This page aims to help Landlords & Agents find information and assistance on Housing Benefit - a benefit for helping tenants on low income to pay their rent.
Click Here for BOLTON COUNCIL's Website INFORMATION ON BENEFITS INTRODUCTION OF LOCAL HOUSING ALLOWANCE (LHA) IN BOLTON
Local Housing Allowance is the Government's new way of working out & paying Housing Benefit to Tenants.
From 7th April 2008, Bolton Council implemented the introduction of Local Housing Allowance (LHA)
Tenants of private landlords will only move onto LHA if they change address or make a new claim for Housing Benefit from 7th April 2008.
LHA differs from Housing Benefit in a number of ways. The main differences are as follows:
1. LHA is a flat rate allowance that is means tested.
2. The LHA rates are decided by the Rent Service and are based on the broad geographical area that the tenant lives in. This area is referred to as the Broad Rental Market Area (BRMA). Bolton Council has already met with the Rent Officer and there will be two BRMA's in Bolton.
3. A tenant's LHA rate will be based on their accommodation requirements rather than the type of property they are renting.
4. Cases will no longer need to be referred to the Rent Officer so claims will be processed sooner.
5. LHA rates will be published monthly and will be available in the local press and on the Bolton Council website. The LHA rates will be calculated based on the number of bedrooms required by the tenant and their family.
6. Tenants will be able to find out how much LHA they will be entitled to based on the size and make up of their family. This means they will be able to work out what type of accommodation they can afford before they move in to a property.
7. In most cases LHA will be paid directly to the tenant. There are some exceptions to this rule if there is evidence that the tenant would have difficulty taking responsibility for paying their rent.
If a tenant falls into rent arrears of 8 weeks or more payment of LHA can be paid direct to the landlord. Landlords will be required to provide evidence of rent arrears and so it will be important to keep accurate records of the rent charged and payments received.
LHA has already been piloted in a number of Local Authorities and evidence shows that where landlords and councils have worked closely together they have had fewer issues. With this in mind Bolton Council are keen to work with landlords to ensure success.
Please Click the following links to find out more and to view related documents:
Bolton Concil's information on Local Housing Allowance(LHA) including information on the LHA RATES (updated monthly and is at the bottom of the page)
The Related Documents that can viewed on the Council Link above include:
>Basic Bank Account Leaflet
>Direct Payment Form
>LHA Previous Months Rates
>LHA Rates & Number of Rooms
>Landlord Letter
>Landlord Events Presentations
>LHA Questions & Answers
You may also wish to check out information at the
DWP - Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) : Information on LHA and more . . .
or
The Rent Service Website
DIRECT PAYMENTS
Click here to download the Form for applying for Direct Payment of LHA to the Landlord
"THE LANDLORD PACK " containing Information & Forms for Housing Benefit and Council Tax, was produced and launched at a Listening Event for Landlords (on 11/8/06 held at the Leverhulme Park Community Centre)
The pack is available to all landlords and has information, advice and helpful documents - to help landlords understand the information required in the claims process and why some decisions may be made.
Click here to view the Event Presentation
click here to view the brief Landlord Pack Presentation
At the listening event, over 40 landlords attended and participated in 4 groups to give feedback and air views on their experiences of Housing Benefits and give comments.
The pack was a direct result of the feedback from BARLO landlords at a previous event. Improved and new Guidance was also put together for Customer Services staff and Assessment Officers to enhance the service and advice given to claimants and to the public.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE CONTENTS OF THE LANDLORD PACK
Click here for a copy of the "SHARING INFORMATION WITH YOUR LANDLORD" Form also found as part of Tenants' HB Claim Forms.
MAKING QUERIES ONLINE
If you or your tenant have queries, problems or issues with your tenant's Housing Benefit claim or payments, you or your tenant can avoid queuing up at the Town Hall by making your enquiries online:
Email your Housing Benefit Queries to:
housing.benefit@bolton.gov.uk
Email your Council Tax Queries to:
council.tax@bolton.gov.uk
Please remember to quote all necessary details and reference numbers etc.
Online queries are treated as "Prime Documents" and will be acknowledged within a day and passed to the relevant Housing Benefit Assessment Officers who will respond to the enquiries.
Please click The Housing Benefits Section / The GM Benefits Website [currently under review] which can provide information on:
>How to claim Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit
>Changes your tenant need to tell them about if claiming Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit
>How other people in your tenant's home affect their Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit
>What to do if there is disagreement with a Housing Benefit or Council Tax Decision
>What happens when your tenant has been paid too much Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit
>Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit - can backdated benefit be claimed?
>Discretionary Housing Payments - Help your tenant can get to top up theirHousing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit
>Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit for people who work
>Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit for Students
>Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit for people who are away from home
The GM BENEFITS WEBSITE is produced by a number of Greater Manchester Local Authorities working in Partnership to form the Greater Manchester Revenues and Benefits Consortium.
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