Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of Local Housing Allowance for residents in (a) Aldershot constituency and (b) Hampshire.

The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) determines the maximum housing support for tenants in the private rented sector. It ensures that claimants in similar circumstances living in the same area are entitled to the same maximum rent allowance regardless of the contractual rent paid.

LHA rates are set within geographical areas referred to as Broad Rental Market Areas so that a household’s LHA rate reflects private rents where they live.

LHA rates were restored to the 30^th percentile of local market rents from April 2024, at a cost of £1.2 billion for 2024/25.

There were 3,134 households receiving housing support via either Housing Benefit or the Housing Element of Universal Credit subject to the LHA in the Aldershot constituency in May-24. Of those, 34% have an eligible rent above their applicable LHA rate, with a mean monthly difference, or shortfall, of £208.24. Equivalent figures for Hampshire are not readily available and to provide them would incur disproportionate cost.

Any future decisions on LHA will be taken in the context of the Government’s missions, housing priorities, and the fiscal context and will include the consideration of current rents.

For those who face a shortfall in meeting their rental costs and need further support, Discretionary Housing Payments are available from local authorities.