Number of bedrooms you need if you rent from a private landlord

If your claim is calculated using Local Housing Allowance (LHA), the number of bedrooms you need is based on the number, age, sex and circumstances of the people living with you. If you require more than four rooms your Local Housing Allowance will be restricted to four room rate. Your LHA rate is the one for the number of bedrooms you need, this may be different from the number of bedrooms in the property.

Shared accommodation rules

Separate rules apply if you are under 35 and live alone, or if you live in shared accommodation. If you live in shared accommodation (for example you rent a room used only by you and share all other facilities with other households) then you get the shared accommodation rate of LHA no matter how old you are. If you are under 35 years old and live alone, then you will also get the shared accommodation rate unless one of the exemptions applies to you. Find out more about the shared accommodation rate.