Any advice re the following situation please:
New supported housing scheme due to open after the introduction of LHA.
The scheme will be run by a registered charity which will also be providing
care / support / supervision for the elderly.
My understanding is that under current rules we would:
1. Refer to The Rent Service as this is a rent allowance case NOT provided
by a registered Housing Association.
2. Do not apply the Rent Officer’s decision as the scheme falls within the
classification of exempt accommodation.
3. Use all of the eligible rent in the calculation
4. Lose 40% subsidy on the difference between the R.O figure and the amount
we treat as the eligible rent.
I am unclear about the procedure post LHA.
The DWPs “Housing Benefit Local Housing Allowance Guidance Manual” suggests:
“Tenancies outside of the deregulated private sector that are not normally
subject to current rent restrictions by Rent Officers, are exempted from
the LHA scheme. These exempted tenancies include”:
“Protected cases” (including accommodation provided by registered charities
where the tenant is provided with care support or supervison)
My question is does this mean:
1. That there is no consideration of the rent officers decision or LHA and
we decide the rent, in which case we lose no subsidy.
Or
2. We do not consider LHA but we still refer to The Rent Service before
reaching our own decision. In this case we continue to lose subsidy on the
difference.
Any assistance is much appreciated.
.
