The Valuation Office Agency

The VOA 

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is an executive agency of HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) with 85 offices spread throughout England, Wales and Scotland employing around 4,300 people. They provide valuations for local authorities in England, for use in the assessment of claims for housing benefit where the tenant is renting from a private landlord. Most standard private tenants making a new claim or a move on or after 7 April 2008 will fall under Local Housing Allowance legislation.

Housing Benefit determinations

In making a determination the Rent Officer will consider:

• The level of rent,
• The rent for similar properties within the vicinity,
• The number of rooms,
• The age and number of people living within the property being assessed,

The determination will usually run for 12 months unless there is a significant change to the property or the number of people included within the household.

Pre-Tenancy Determinations (PTD)

If you are claiming housing benefit and are planning to rent from a private landlord you can ask VOA to make a valuation before you sign the tenancy agreement. You need to complete a pre-tenancy determination form available on VOA website or from your local authority housing benefit department . The PTD form needs to be signed by you as the prospective tenant, and either the landlord or landlords agent, and returned to the local authority housing benefit department that covers the area where the property is located. This form must not be sent direct to VOA.

application-for-pre-tenancy-determination-apr07

The Rent Register

The VOA can register fair rents for most private-sector residential accommodation let before 15 January 1989. This is allowed for in the Rent Act 1977.

Landlords or tenants can apply to the rent officer for a rent to be registered. They can apply either jointly or on their own. There is no charge for this service. Rents can be re-registered every two years to keep them up to date, or earlier if a significant change takes place. A joint application by both landlord and tenant can be made at any time.

We will enter details of the rent officer's decision on the Rent Register and send copies to the landlord and tenant. The registered rent is the most that can usually be charged by a landlord.

The online Electronic Rent Register is a public document.

The Electronic Rent Register is updated every Sunday and as such may be unavailable for short periods. Please try again later if you experience any problems.