Local Housing Allowance
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Local Housing Allowance on levels of poverty among older private renters.
Answered by Sir Stephen Timms
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions reviewed Local Housing Allowance (LHA) at Autumn Budget and announced that rates would be maintained at their current levels for 2026/27. A range of factors, such as rent levels and poverty impacts, were considered against the fiscal context, including the level of housing support that Government provides overall.
People facing a shortfall in meeting their housing costs can apply to their local authority for discretionary support, including a Crisis and Resilience Fund Housing Payment if in England, or a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) if in Wales and Scotland.
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