All new claims for Housing Benefit made on or after 7 April 2008 will be paid under the new LHA scheme, except for the cases listed below, who currently will not be affected by LHA:

• Registered Social Landlord (RSL) tenancies.
• Protected cases such as supported Housing provided by certain local authorities, registered social landlords, charities and voluntary organisations.
• Tenancies that are excluded from current rent restrictions such as tenancies entered into prior to 15 January 1989.
• Exceptional cases such as caravans, houseboats, tents, mobile homes and hostels.
• Cases where the Rent Service judges that a substantial part of the rent is attributable to board and lodge, such as hotel accommodation.

Customers who move home within the borough will also be affected by LHA (this includes moving room/flat within a house).   Payments of Housing Benefit at the new address will fall into the new LHA rules even if payments were being made under the old scheme at the previous address.

Also, customers who have a break in their Benefit of a week or more will come under the new LHA scheme.