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If you are single, aged 25 or more, but under 35, when your Housing Benefit (Local Housing Allowance) is re-assessed from 1 January 2012 onwards, this change will apply to you. The change means that you would move onto the Local Housing Allowance rate for shared accommodation in your area, which may be much lower than what you presently receive.
We will not be able to tell you the exact rate for shared accommodation, as this varies from month to month. However, the current shared accommodation rate for property in your area is £63.00, which will give you an indication of the likely rate next year.
- If you already get Housing Benefit at the self-contained one bedroom rate your Housing Benefit will go down when you move onto the shared accommodation rate. If you already live in shared accommodation you should see no change.
- If your Housing Benefit is paid directly to your landlord, the amount your landlord gets for your rent could go down.
- If you are thinking of claiming Housing Benefit, you need to consider this change before you renew, change address or make a new tenancy agreement with a private landlord.
- If you have been claiming Housing Benefit continuously at your address since before 2008 and rent from a private landlord this change may also affect you
Referred rent cases
Those who have been on Housing Benefit since before the introduction of the Local Housing Allowance in April 2008 have their rent charge referred on an annual basis to the Valuation Office Agency. If you are in the above age group you will have your eligible rent based on the lower single room rent from your next review on or after 1 January 2012.
Exemptions
The above change will not apply to certain exempt groups as follows:
- If you get the severe disability premium in your Housing Benefit because you are entitled to certain other benefits
- If you have one or more non-dependant living with you
- If you are under age 22 and been in care
From 01/01/2012 there are further exemptions for customer’s age 25-34 living in self-contained accommodation including the following:
- People who have lived in a hostel or hostels for three months or more and have been offered and accepted support services to enable you to be rehabilitated or re-settled into the community.
For more information about these changes, when and how they will affect you and exemptions please contact the Local Authority Housing Benefit/Housing Services department. We can help you to find out exactly how these changes will affect you and talk to you about what your options may be if you are looking for accommodation.
There is more information about the change and about the current shared accommodation rates in different parts of the country on the Directgov 
website under Local Housing Allowance.
website under Local Housing Allowance. Related Documents
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Changes affecting Housing Benefit
Advice for tenants who rent from a private landlord.
Last updated: 07/12/2011, 2:58pm (88 KB)
Related Websites
Related Tasks
- Apply - Benefits
- Apply - Landlord BACS form (Printable)
- Apply - Student Benefit (Printable)
- Apply - Valuation of Interest in Property (Printable)
- Check - Benefits Calculation
- Notify - Benefits: Certificate of Earnings (Printable)
- Notify - Benefits: Child Care Certificate (Printable)
- Notify - Benefits: Landlords Declaration (Printable)
- Notify - Benefits: Self Employed Questionnaire (Printable)
- Notify - Change of Address
- Notify - Change of Address Form (Printable)
- Notify - Change of Circumstances (Printable)
- Notify - Intention to Claim Council Tax Benefit
- Notify - Non Receipt of Payment
Contact Benefits Service
- Tel: 01803 207201
- Email: housing.benefits@torbay.gov.uk
- Fax: 01803 292866
