How do I find out about Benefits for my new address?

Private tenants and Local Housing Allowance

The Government has changed the way the Council works out and pays Housing Benefit for some private tenants from April 2008. (By ‘private tenant’ we mean somebody who rents their home from a private landlord.)

Local Housing Allowance is help with the cost of rent and will take the place of Housing Benefit for some private tenants.

The area you live in

An independent Rent Officer has split the borough into different areas called Broad Rental Market Areas (BRMAs). Within your Broad Rental Market Area, the amount of Local Housing Allowance will be the same for each household that needs the same number of bedrooms.

It is a fixed rate based on the locality of your property and the number of bedrooms you need, not how much the rent is.

This is the maximum figure that can be used to calculate Local Housing Allowance. The amount of Local Housing Allowance you get will depend upon your income, capital and if you have other adults living with you.

Telling the council about your move

Contact Us:

Please contact the Revenues and Benefits Service if you have any queries.

If you are a Council Tenant, you can also contact:

Cedar Wood House
2d Fulbourne Road
Walthamstow  E17 4GG  (map)

Tel 020 8496 3000