By Tony Booth

Registered social landlords are up in arms about the new Local Housing Allowance (LHA) system, which is due to be fully introduced in 2008 and will completely replace the current housing benefit system.

In essence, the new regime moves away from a fundamentally supportive welfare method of paying people's rent, to a system that gives recipients the power and responsibility of choosing their own housing.

While some of the elements of LHA are to be applauded, many landlords are concerned over a major change to the long established 'direct payment' system.
LHA is currently operating in 18 local authority areas and will be extended to all 390 authorities by April next year.

It has been commended as the single biggest overhaul of the benefit system in over a decade.