1. The Local Housing Allowance

2. Introduction Local Housing Allowance (LHA) Key factors Consultation
Helping landlords manage payments
Citizens Advice Bureau
Vulnerability
Bank accounts
Early indications

3. LHA Key factors Weekly LHA rates set monthly Claimants needs
Claimant keeps excess rent
Claimant can choose how payments are made to them
Blackpool is using a PHASED approach to implement LHA

4. Consultation Local Housing Allowance information
Landlord consultation meetings
Stakeholder Consultation meeting

5. Helping Landlords manage payments
Landlord Schedules
Direct to tenant details
8 Weeks arrears
The Authority must be notified that arrears exist
The Authority will try to confirm with tenant
Once confirmed, payment will be made to landlord
Under 8 weeks
Payments suspended until situation resolved
Large payments
First payments of over 2 weeks will be made to the tenant in the landlord’s name
Last two week payment
The Authority will try to confirm non payment to landlord with tenant
List of LL, letting agents, HA RSL
List of tenant representatives

6. Citizens Advice Bureau
Extra resource
3 staff dedicated to LHA
Based in the Benefits office
Debt and budgeting advice
Free
Full service

7. Vulnerability The definition
LHA claimant “….is likely to have difficulty in managing his affairs”
Identifying vulnerable claimants
Liaison with large support organisations
Sending letters before conversion

8. Bank Accounts All local banks visited
Bank advice leaflet sent to all tenants
Citizen Advice Bureau
Before LHA 12% of tenants – BACS
Currently 68% of LHA claimants - BACS

9. Early indications 9,500 Private tenant cases
7,500 will eventually be converted to LHA
17/11/03 to 1/6/04 = 4,388 LHA cases
Vulnerability
9% of LHA cases have payments made direct to landlord
4% of LHA cases have associated arrears issues
Converted cases
Before LHA, eligible rent was 86% of average Gross rent
Average LHA is 96% of average Gross rent