UK Landlord Forum / Life

I have a tenant who is on housing benefit and has been there for a few years now. However I now want to put up the rent as it has not kept up with inflation.

My question is: How do I find out the maximum the local council would be wiling to pay? She is a good tenant and I don't want to raise the rent to a point where she would not be able to cover it.

I assume you would have to contact the benefits dept.and give them the amount you want to raise it to.Maybe it is negotiable? 

I was thinking they might not want to make that information public as landlords would exploit the system by always charging the maximum.

I suppose it's worth asking though to see what they say.

LHA rates for each type of house and each Council are published openly.

Quote from: Hippogriff on January 03, 2020, 07:40:48 AM
LHA rates for each type of house and each Council are published openly.

Thanks

I found this website

https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/Search.aspx

Hi my flats are in Hastings and the most they pay dss is £550 a month,hope that helps.

I believe you can only find out what the current rates are on the VOA website. I am in the same boat with my tenant. I have looked at the rate increases since she moved in, and am taking a slightly conservative estimate of what I think the new 2020-21 rate will be. I could otherwise simply charge the 2019-20 rate which would be better than nothing but prob still about £320 down for the year. You have to write to your tenant and inform them of the increase and from when it will take effect (I'm making it post 6th April to keep things simple). I believe the tenant must then show the letter to the council, who should then pay the higher rent.