When everyone has a home

Housing advice for Northern Ireland

Housing benefit & LHA for private tenants



Local Housing Allowance rules set out how much benefit can be paid to help private tenants with their rent. These rules are used by Universal Credit and Housing Benefit.  The scheme was introduced in April 2008 and it applies for certain groups of private tenants only.

If you don't already get Housing Benefit, you can only make a new claim for it if you get a Severe Disability Premium as part of your other benefits or if you are over pension age. You also need to have a responsibility to pay rent or rates. Other people with responsibility for rent and rates can get help with these payments by applying for Universal Credit.  


You should apply for help to pay your rent if you are on a low income or are struggling. For most people this means claiming Universal Credit, but you may still be able to claim Housing Benefit if you are a pensioner or if you get a severe disability premium in your other benefits. 

Your Universal Credit is normally paid directly to your landlord, but you can ask for it to be paid to you instead. If you get Housing Benefit, you can choose whether you want the money paid to you, to the landlord or to the estate agent. 


