Local Housing Authority (LHA)
A Local Housing Authority (LHA) is the part of your local council responsible for housing standards, enforcement and some housing-related benefits in its area. In England this usually means the district, borough or unitary council’s housing and/or environmental health teams.
From a landlord’s perspective, the LHA is the body that can:
Inspect your properties under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).
Serve improvement, prohibition or emergency remedial notices.
Run and police licensing schemes for HMOs and, in some areas, all private rentals.
Issue civil penalties, rent repayment orders via the Property Tribunal and, in serious cases, seek banning orders.
Under the Renters’ Rights Act, LHAs gain an even more central role in regulating the Private Rented Sector. They are expected to use the PRS Database, Awaab’s Law timescales for serious hazards, including damp and mould, and links to the Private Rented Sector Ombudsman to target rogue or non-compliant landlords more effectively.
Note that LHA is also widely used to mean Local Housing Allowance (the housing benefit / Universal Credit rent cap), which is separate. In this dictionary context, Local Housing Authority refers to the council regulator, not the benefit rate.
