The way that Housing Benefit is paid to customers who rent private accommodation changed from 7th April 2008. The new scheme is called Local Housing Allowance (LHA) and has been in place for a number of years in some 'pathfinder' authorities in England, Wales and Scotland.
LHA affects any landlord who enters into a new private tenancy agreement with a person awarded HB.
The only change for most landlords is that LHA will be paid to the tenant. The tenant will be responsible for paying their rent to the landlord. This applies only to new claims and where there is a change of address or a break in entitlement.