[holding answer 8 October 2007]: The local housing allowance (LHA) will be rolled out nationally from 7 April 2008; it will apply to new claims and to those that have moved address. We estimate between 45 to 60 per cent. of housing benefit cases in the deregulated private rented sector will be on LHA for the period 2008-09. This would represent between 370,000 to 500,000 cases.
[holding answer 8 October 2007]: The Department for Work and Pensions has an extensive programme of support and advice to help local authorities with the introduction of the local housing allowance (LHA) in 2008.
The Department delivered 19 regional seminars for local authorities throughout summer 2007. A range of implementation and guidance products have already been made available to assist local authorities with specific activities, based largely on examples of good practice provided by LHA pathfinder authorities.
The Department will continue to provide communications, advice and support to local authorities in the run-up to the roll-out of the LHA in April 2008. This will include an LHA guidance manual and a training brief for local authority staff.
[holding answer 8 October 2007]: The Department for Work and Pensions has provided local authorities with £59 million to support the implementation of the local housing allowance (LHA).
This is intended to support the range of activities local authorities will need to undertake in order to implement the LHA effectively, including setting up appropriate structures to provide financial advice to their customers. This includes an element of funding for the provision of financial advice to customers and local authorities are free to choose how this funding is spent—including financing arrangements with advice agencies if they wish to do so.