Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how often her Department updates the housing element of universal credit to reflect changes in local market rents; what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the length of time between those updates; and if she will take steps to ensure that the housing element of universal credit reflects those rents.

Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates form part of the Universal Credit housing costs calculation for households in the private rented sector. This calculation is based on either the total amount of rent and service charges they pay, or the applicable LHA rate - whichever is lowest, less any deductions for housing costs contributions for any relevant non-dependents living in the claimant’s home.

LHA rates are usually considered annually with any changes to LHA rates effective from April each year. From April 2020 LHA rates will be increased by CPI.