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Local Housing Allowance (LHA) determines the maximum financial support available for renters in the private rented sector. The Secretary of State has committed to reviewing the level of LHA rates annually.
Each year Rent Officers at the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) determine LHA rates for the coming financial year.
On 22 November 2023 the Chancellor announced in the Autumn Statement that the government will raise LHA rates in Great Britain to the 30th percentile of local market rates in April 2024.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) uses LHA rates to calculate the maximum housing support for claimants of either the housing element of Universal Credit or Housing Benefit. LHA rates are set within Broad Rental Market Areas (BRMA).
A BRMA is an area within which a person could reasonably be expected to live, taking into account access to certain facilities and services, for example with regards to health and education.
LANDLORDS WHO CHARGE LHA RATE RENT MAY WANT TO LOOK AT INCREASING THEIR RENT FROM 01 APRIL 2024 TO REFLECT THE INCREASE.
The LHA rates from 01 April 2024 have now been confirmed and published as follows; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-housing-allowance-lha-rates-applicable-from-april-2024-to-march-2025
We have included a sample of the LHA rate increases below;
| AREA | SHARED | 1 BED | 2 BED | 3 BED | 4 BED |
| Plymouth 01.04.20-31.03.24 | £73.50 | £103.56 | £134.63 | £159.95 | £195.62 |
| Plymouth From 01.04.24 | £92.05 | £126.58 | £155.34 | £184.11 | £224.38 |
| Exeter 01.04.20-31.03.24 | £96.66 | £131.18 | £156.49 | £189.86 | £253.15 |
| Exeter From 01.04.24 | £123.58 | £144.99 | £182.96 | £218.63 | £299.18 |
| Bristol 01.04.20-31.03.24 | £90.10 | £159.95 | £189.86 | £218.63 | £304.93 |
| Bristol From 01.04.24 | £117.68 | £207.12 | £252.00 | £299.18 | £425.75 |
| Kernow West 01.04.20-31.03.24 | £80.97 | £113.92 | £143.84 | £169.15 | £212.88 |
| Kernow West From 01.04.24 | £90.33 | £126.58 | £159.95 | £187.56 | £253.15 |
| Mid & East Devon 01.04.20-31.03.24 | £84.50 | £103.56 | £136.93 | £166.85 | £207.12 |
| Mid & East Devon From 01.04.24 | £93.00 | £121.97 | £157.64 | £189.86 | £253.15 |
| Mid & West Dorset 01.04.20-31.03.24 | £80.00 | £119.67 | £149.59 | £182.96 | £241.64 |
| Mid & West Dorset From 01.04.24 | £98.11 | £136.93 | £172.60 | £207.12 | £287.67 |
| North Devon 01.04.20-31.03.24 | £69.04 | £97.81 | £126.58 | £149.59 | £182.96 |
| North Devon From 01.04.24 | £97.81 | £111.62 | £148.44 | £178.36 | £228.99 |
| South Devon 01.04.20-31.03.24 | £65.00 | £103.56 | £138.08 | £168.00 | £207.12 |
| South Devon From 01.04.24 | £84.50 | £116.22 | £155.34 | £193.32 | £253.15 |
Information from gov.uk.
Bristol City Council’s Cabinet has now approved the two new schemes which were subject to a consultation last year. The two new schemes will come into force on Tuesday 6 August 2024. These are a citywide additional House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing scheme, and a new selective licensing scheme (which covers most other types of privately rented properties) in three wards – Bishopston and Ashley Down, Cotham and Easton.
This means that all HMOs within the Bristol City Council boundary, and most other types of privately rented properties in Bishopston and Ashley Down, Cotham and Easton wards, will need a licence from Tuesday 6 August 2024. The schemes will be in operation for five years and each property will be inspected at least once during the lifetime of the scheme to ensure that they meet licensing standards.
Landlords and agents will have up to three months from the start date to submit their licensing applications (until 5 November 2024) together with the part 1 fee.
An HMO is a rented property where three or more persons who are not related, occupy the accommodation and share some facilities such as a bathroom and/or kitchen.
HMOs that are already licensed under existing additional licensing schemes whose licence will expire while the new scheme is in force, will need to be re-licensed when the current licence expires.
HMOs which are occupied by five or more persons will still be required to be licensed under the mandatory HMO licensing scheme and not under the citywide additional scheme.
It is a legal requirement for landlords to make a licence application for each property that they let that is covered by licensing schemes. Failure to do so could result in formal enforcement action as set out below.
Under the Housing Act 2004, a person commits an offence if they control or manage a house/HMO which is required to be licensed but is not. This could result in prosecution and an unlimited fine.
Other consequences of operating an unlicensed property are; rent repayment orders, not being able to end a tenancy while the property is unlicensed, or the local authority taking over the management of your property.
Under the Housing and Planning Act 2016 local authorities are permitted to impose a civil penalty of up to £30,000 as an alternative to prosecution for a range of offences under the Housing Act 2004. This includes the offences outlined above in relation to the licensing of houses.
Further details on how to make a licence application will be sent just before the scheme goes live, and the system will not accept an application before that date.
For more information on property licensing please visit Bristol City Councils licensing web pages https://www.bristol.gov.uk/business/licences-and-permits/property-licences
Wednesday 1st May 2024 – 9:00 – 4:30pm
Venue – Online
Price – £65 for members of SWLA, £75 for non – members for one day course.
Course covers ASTs, Deposits, Section 21s, Section 8s, HMOs, Gas and Electrical Safety, Inventories and much more.
The course will provide you with all the skills to start, manage and finish a tenancy.
Places still available. Contact the office on 01752 510913 or info@landlordssouthwest.co.uk to book your place, places only secured on receipt of payment.
Over 1200 landlords have already completed this course since September 2011.
Course can lead to Accreditation, if required.
We are proud to announce Landlord Accreditation South West (LASW) are founder members of the West of England Rental Standard.
