Shared Accommodation and Local Housing Allowance

The highest amount of rent we can use to work out your housing benefit depends on the number of bedrooms you need according to the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rules.

Under the LHA rules you are classed as living in shared accommodation if you do not have exclusive use of;

two or more rooms, such as a bedroom and a living room, or
one room, and a bathroom, toilet and kitchen or facilities for cooking.

If you live on your own in shared accommodation, or only have a partner living with you, your benefit will be based on the Local Housing Allowance shared accommodation rate.

However, the shared accommodation rate will not apply if you (or any partner) are;

a care leaver aged under 22, or
severely disabled

instead the one bedroom Local Housing Allowance rate will apply.

Example
Bill and Jane are a couple who have no children. They live in a house and have sole use of one bedroom and share the use of the kitchen, bathroom and toilet. As they only have sole use of one room and share the use of the other rooms benefit is based on the Local Housing Allowance shared room rate.

If you have any children or other adults living with you, use the Bedroom Calculator to work out which LHA bedroom rate applies to you.

The weekly rates are shown in the LHA Rates page. The amount of benefit you are awarded will still depend on your income and savings. You can use the Benefit Calculator to find out how much benefit you may be entitled to.

If your rent is more than your benefit you will need to pay the shortfall.