Local housing allowance

If you are a private tenant on a low income you may be entitled to local housing allowance. Anyone in Edinburgh who rents their home or a room from a private landlord and makes a new claim for Housing benefit will have their entitlement calculated using the local housing allowance rates.

You are not entitled to receive local housing allowance if:

• you rent your property from the Council or housing association
• your rent has been registered as a "fair rent"
• your rent includes a substantial amount for board & lodgings
• your tenancy started before 1989
• you live somewhere where you are provided with care, support or supervision
• you live in a caravan, mobile home or houseboat.

Council and housing association tenants are not affected by local housing allowance and should claim Housing benefit in the normal manner. See our Benefits online service for more details.