Valuation Office Agency sets out LHA rates for 2020/2021 following Chancellor's announcement of new package of financial support for people affected by coronavirus

Figures take into account changes as instructed by the Social Security (Coronavirus) (Further Measures) Regulations 2020

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has set out the local housing allowance (LHA) rates for 2020/2021 following the Chancellor's announcement last week of a new package of measures to support people affected by coronavirus (COVID-19).

NB - alongside his announcement of the new Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and other measures, the Chancellor said that the government will increase the ‘generosity’ of housing benefit and universal credit so that the LHA will cover at least 30 per cent of market rents in an area.

Highlighting that the new figures take into account changes as instructed by the Social Security (Coronavirus) (Further Measures) Regulations 2020 (which are yet to be issued), the new LHA 2020/2021 tables set out - 

• the LHA rates applicable for the 12 months commencing April 2019 (Table 1);
• the 30th percentile figures derived from twelve months lettings information collected up to the end of September 2019 (Table 2);
• the maximum LHA rates from 1 April 2020 (Table 3); and
• the LHA rates effective from 1 April 2020 taking account of the maximum LHA (Table 4).

For more information see Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates applicable from April 2020 to March 2021 - amendment as instructed by The Social Security (Coronavirus) (Further Measures) Regulations 2020 from gov.uk