Angus Council is to write to all private tenants who receive the local housing allowance rate (LHA) of Housing Benefit to inform them of changes to the system.

The UK Government introduced changes to the LHA on 1 April 2011. Those private tenants who receive LHA are reviewed yearly and from the date of their first yearly review after 1 April 2011, they were given nine months protection from these changes.


For the first tenants reviewed after 1 April 2011, the end of this nine months protection period starts on 1 January 2012.

The council will write to all private tenants who receive LHA advising them of the changes and where to seek assistance.

More information regarding these changes can be found on the Angus Council website or by calling the Housing Benefits enquiry team on 01382 536500.

Local housing allowance was introduced in 2008 as a new way of working out Housing Benefit for private tenants who rent a property or room from a private landlord and are on a low income.

(GK)