The main aims of introducing the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) scheme are to promote fairness, choice, transparency & simplicity and personal responsibility for our customers:  

• Fairness: LHA is designed to pay the same amount of Benefit to tenants with similar circumstances living in the same area.  (However, it is important to remember that Housing Benefit is means tested). 
• Choice: It allows tenants to trade and choose between the quality and price of their accommodation. 
• Transparency and simplicity: It allows tenants to find out in advance how much Benefit they will receive and complicated rent officer referrals are no longer needed.
• Personal responsibility: As Local Housing Allowance is paid directly to tenants it encourages them to take responsibility for their own financial affairs and paying their rent themselves.