LHA advice - first time applicant - how many rooms ?

[AfricanGal]

I may be in a position where I have to apply for LHA and have never done so before.
I am in social housing but do not claim any benefits.
My circs have now changed overnight and due to a tragic family crisis am now a mum to 4 children who previously lived with their parent: my sibling. We are in London and my HA are no help whatsoever so i envisage moving into private so that we can have a home with more bedrooms.
Can anyone tell me if I apply for LHA can I rent a place that has more rooms than I am 'entitled to'. ?
Any advice appreciated

You can rent a property with more rooms but the housing costs paid will only be that set at LHA for the amount of bedrooms you are entitled to so you will have to top up the rent.

I am sorry that your family are going through this.

lha-direct.voa.gov.uk

If you enter your postcode it will give you the max rent per bedroom for LA housing.

Use the Gov entitled too website to figure out how much housing benefit you would receive.

You would only be allowed to "bid" on LA properties of more than one bedroom if you had legal ownership of the children and could evidence it was permanent, through a guardianship order. This will need to be organised through social care.

The general rule is one room per adult/couple and one room per 2 children of the same sex or a room each if the 2 children are over 10 and opposite sexes.

lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/bedroomcalculator.aspx

@LastRoloIsMine. Thanks, that is what I was getting at as 3 beds in my area are similar in cost to some 4 beds , but my entitlement is only for a 3. I understand that the housing cost is set.

@nancyjuice7 yes this is all being done through the courts just that my LA has little in the way of properties available, and my HA cannot assist whatsoever. My current accommodation is v cramped at the moment, and these children have been through so much already I just want to try and do my best for them.

Thanks everyone for all advice

i know that there was recently something that came up about private landlords no longer being allowed to discriminate against people who were claiming UC or LHA
Does anyone know if this is now being enforced or is it still the same as before: landlords not keen on tenants who are unemployed. I have always worked and paid my own way so this is a first for me as I am now taking on children aged 1 year-15 yo !

[quote AfricanGal]@LastRoloIsMine. Thanks, that is what I was getting at as 3 beds in my area are similar in cost to some 4 beds , but my entitlement is only for a 3. I understand that the housing cost is set.

@nancyjuice7 yes this is all being done through the courts just that my LA has little in the way of properties available, and my HA cannot assist whatsoever. My current accommodation is v cramped at the moment, and these children have been through so much already I just want to try and do my best for them.

Thanks everyone for all advice[/quote]
The LHA rate is set at the 30th percentile of the eligible rents for the area in the previous year to 30th September. So, only the bottom 30% of rental prices within the Broad Market Rental Area will be covered by LHA.

Sorry, I can't help with the LHA but the children should have a social worker who might be able to help with a social housing move priority. After all, if you weren't looking after them they'd cost the LA thousands of pounds a week to house/accommodate in placements. Try to get pushier if you can and please don't give up social housing - it is very secure whereas, as I'm sure you're aware, a private tenancy isn't.

Are they CLA?

Here access to social
Housing is often sorted out by social workers as part of the looked after child process