Local Housing Allowance: York

The Department monitors the proportion of households in receipt of the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) whose monthly rent exceeds their LHA rate and the value of this shortfall.

In York Central constituency, 63% of households have a shortfall averaging £180 a month. In York Outer constituency, 74% of households have a shortfall averaging £199 a month.

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions reviews LHA rates annually, usually in the Autumn, and in 2020 we spent almost £1 billion increasing LHA rates to the 30th percentile. The significant investment at that time has been maintained ensuring that everyone who benefited continues to do so. However, LHA rates are not intended to cover all rents in all areas.

For those who require additional support, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) can be paid to those entitled to Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs. Since 2011 the Government has provided nearly £1.6 billion to local authorities for households who need additional support with their housing costs.

The Department does not collect data on rental costs for accommodation in each Broad Rental Market Area (BRMA), the Valuation Office Agency collects data on rental costs in England to produce the 30th percentile of market rents and publishes the list of rents utilised to calculate this. The latest list of rents for the period 1st October 2021 to 30th September 2022 is published here.