Guides › Rent and Deposits › Local Housing Allowance: Why Your Housing Benefit Does Not Cover the Rent
Local Housing Allowance: Why Your Housing Benefit Does Not Cover the Rent
Local Housing Allowance (LHA) sets how much Housing Benefit or Universal Credit housing help private tenants can get. The rates for April 2026 to March 2027 are the same rates that came into force on 1 April 2024. You are allowed a bedroom for each adult or couple, with rules for children, and most single people under 35 only get the shared room rate. If the rent is higher than the LHA rate, you pay the difference.
At A Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
How LHA Works
Rates for 2026 to 2027
The government publishes LHA tables by area. The rates from April 2026 to March 2027 are the same rates that came into force on 1 April 2024. source
Bedrooms
One bedroom is allowed for each person or couple over 16, two children under 16 of the same sex, two children under 10 regardless of sex, and any other child. An extra room is allowed for a disabled tenant or partner who needs a non-resident overnight carer. Most single people under 35 get the shared room rate, even in self-contained homes. source
If It Does Not Cover the Rent
Help
Discretionary Housing Payments ended in England on 31 March 2026. Help with rent shortfalls now comes from the Crisis and Resilience Fund through your council: see our page on rent shortfall help. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- April 2024LHA rates still in useFor 2026 to 2027
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Find your area's LHA rate on your council's website.
Step 2 of 5
Check you have been given the right number of bedrooms.
Step 3 of 5
Tell your council about any carer or disability needs.
Step 4 of 5
Ask your council about the Crisis and Resilience Fund if there is a gap.
Step 5 of 5
Get benefits advice from Citizens Advice.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Your Local Council
Housing or environmental health team. It can act on landlord breaches.
Shelter England
Free advice on deposit claims and eviction notices.
Citizens Advice
Free advice on any renting problem.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Benefits are complicated: get a free benefits check before you move.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different housing rules.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 15 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- gov.uk/government/publications/local-housing-allowance-lha-rates-applicable-from-april-2026-to-march-2027 Checked 15 October 2026
- bristol.gov.uk/residents/benefits-and-financial-help/housing-benefit/local-housing-allowance Checked 15 October 2026
- gov.uk/government/publications/crisis-and-resilience-fund-guidance-for-local-authorities-in-england-1-april-2026-to-31-march-2029/the-crisis-and-resilience-fund-guidance-for-local-authorities-in-england-1-april-2026-to-31-march-2029 Checked 15 October 2026
- england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/tenancy_deposits/check_your_tenancy_deposit_is_protected/deposit_not_protected Checked 12 October 2026
- citizensadvice.org.uk Checked 8 October 2026