Guidance

Local Authority Housing Fund: Round 4 prospectus and guidance

Published 19 November 2025

Applies to England

1. Introduction

In July 2025 this government set out its plan to deliver a decade of renewal for social and affordable housing. This renewal is focused on the biggest increase in housing supply in a generation, alongside a transformational and lasting change in the safety and quality of homes.

Increasing the supply of social and affordable homes is fundamental to this government’s strategy to ensure everyone has a safe, secure and affordable home, and we have committed £39 billion to deliver a new 10 year Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP). Over time this will deliver around 300,000 new social and affordable homes.

We know that homelessness creates significant pressures on councils to provide temporary accommodation whilst more sustainable housing solutions are found.  Where Temporary Accommodation (TA) is needed, we want to help councils make sure this is decent and affordable. That is why we have announced the largest round of the Local Authority Housing Fund to date, committing £950 million to deliver a 4-year programme (from April 2026). The fund is primarily aimed at ending the use of B&B and poor-quality temporary accommodation for families who find themselves homeless and in need of accommodation.

The LAHF will also continue to support some families on the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP). Local authorities play a vital role in integrating recent arrivals to the UK. It is thanks to the hard work of so many in local government and the wider public sector across all parts of our country that we have been able to welcome these families to safety. We expect these homes to become available to support wider local authority general housing and homelessness responsibilities after the resettlement needs of the eligible cohort have been addressed.

The fourth round of the Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF R4) will build on the success of the previous rounds. The first 3 rounds have delivered circa 7000 homes since 2022.

Funding has initially been prioritised to areas with the highest usage of unsuitable temporary accommodation. Chief executives of these local authorities have received an email which sets out their funding amount. Local authorities are asked to deliver a specified targeted number of homes for the eligible resettlement cohort, and a specified targeted number of homes for general needs TA. Funding offers include a capital component to reflect the homelessness and resettlement objectives of the fund, and a revenue component to bolster local authorities’ housing delivery capacity. Grant rates are shown in section 6. Local authorities or their partners are expected to fund the remainder of the costs. To promote new supply, an uplifted grant rate is available for those local authorities that are able to deliver their targeted homes as new housing supply. Local authorities that have not received an initial allocation have also been invited to express their interest in being considered for any unclaimed LAHF R4 funds to deliver the programme objectives.

This prospectus sets out the objectives for LAHF R4, what the grant can be spent on, the eligible cohorts, and the process and timelines MHCLG will follow for allocating grants to local authorities.

2. Purpose of the fourth round of funding

The £950 million LAHF R4 helps deliver MHCLG’s commitment to assist those who are homeless, alongside supporting the government’s humanitarian obligations to provide safe and suitable housing to those fleeing Afghanistan. LAHF R4 investment will provide local authorities with a lasting affordable housing asset for the future.

2.1 Funding objectives

The objectives of LAHF R4 are to:

• reduce local housing pressures and use of expensive and unsuitable accommodation, by providing better quality temporary accommodation to those owed homelessness duties by local authorities
• provide sustainable settled housing for some families on the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP) so that they can build new lives in the UK, find employment and integrate into communities
• support local housing markets by assisting the delivery of new housing stock or new developments to grow overall housing supply

3. What the funding can be used for

LAHF R4 will provide capital grant to local authorities to enable them to expand their supply of housing stock for the initial purposes of using as temporary accommodation to families owed a homelessness duty, or to provide affordable accommodation to eligible ARP arrivals. Within the framework of the purpose and objectives of the fund set out above, we want to provide local authorities with as much flexibility as possible to shape local delivery according to circumstances in each area. The guidance provided in this document is intended to support this. Local authorities will need to be satisfied that their specific plans are lawful and deliverable.

Housing delivered as part of LAHF R4 could include, but is not limited to:

• expanding existing local authority delivery programmes or those of local housing association partners
• increasing the number of affordable housing units in housebuilder-led schemes
• bringing empty / dilapidated properties (both residential and commercial units) back into use, including properties owned by a local authority or housing associations
• remodelling defunct specialist accommodation including sheltered accommodation
• ‘flipping’ forthcoming shared ownership completions into social rented housing
• providing modular housing as part of wider efforts to use MMC to support local temporary accommodation pressures
• directly commissioning or constructing new supply that can be delivered in 2026 to 2030
• purchasing properties on the open market

Ultimately, local authorities may choose the most appropriate delivery mechanism to achieve the fund’s objectives and to bring on stream the accommodation as quickly as possible. In LAHF R4 launch webinars we will cover potential delivery options. Local authorities can also seek further advice from  lahf@communities.gov.uk.

We encourage local authorities to target delivering their LAHF R4 allocation as new housing supply as this will have wider benefits to local housing markets.  We will provide a 10% uplift to the grant rate for each property delivered as a genuinely additional new home to recognise potential higher costs for this type of delivery - see 6.3 below for further details.

Whilst local authorities will take the lead in their areas, we encourage local authorities to actively consider partnership with housing associations who may be the most appropriate delivery partners to achieve the fund objectives. Housing association stock, development, and disposals pipelines could assist local authorities to deliver this fund, as could their expertise and capacity for stock purchase, management and wraparound support.

The National Housing Federation can support local authorities to find housing association partners in their area. Local authorities should ensure that any partners delivering LAHF R4 on their behalf are able to meet programme target dates with the grant allocations available.

Local authorities may work in partnership with other local authorities, or an upper-tier authority (e.g. county council, Combined Mayoral Authority / Strategic Regional Authority etc) to deliver their LAHF R4 allocations jointly, either informally or formally. We ask local authorities to indicate in their validation forms if they plan to do this.

Local authorities should acquire properties in their own area. Where there is a genuine need to acquire properties in another local authority’s area, the local authority should seek advance agreement of the other authority and the LAHF team in MHCLG. This will be by exception only. If a local authority places a homeless household into accommodation in another local area, they are required by law to notify the local authority of any placement, to ensure there is no disruption to schooling, employment, etc.

Local authorities will be expected to manage this fund within their normal budgetary guidelines.  We will ask local authorities to agree specific housing delivery targets with MHCLG for grant allocated via a memorandum of understanding (MOU); further details can be found in section 12.

4. What types of housing should be delivered

This fund aims to support local authorities to provide:

• better quality TA for those owed a homelessness duty
• safe, suitable, long-term housing for those on Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP) who are unable to secure their own housing

4.1 For Round 4 TA element properties:

• TA properties should be family sized homes (2-4+ bed only).

4.2 For Round 4 resettlement element properties:

Local authorities should consider the needs of the ARP cohort when determining the size, type and location of properties to acquire.

• local authorities will be provided with an allocation for both medium sized family homes (2 and 3 bed minimum) and for 4+ bed larger family homes (here referred to as ‘large resettlement units’)
• we expect LAHF R4 resettlement funding to be used to increase access to settled accommodation so delivering resettlement homes as temporary accommodation will not be appropriate other than in exceptional circumstances

4.3 Rent levels

We expect that all homes delivered through this fund will be affordable/low-cost housing to support wider local authority housing and homelessness responsibilities for the remainder of their lifetime. It is up to local authorities to determine the precise rent level and tenure of homes in line with the fund objectives. This should be at social rent where viable, but could include affordable rent, or a temporary accommodation rent.

4.4 Tenancy duration and social housing legacy

As the housing landscape in each area and the circumstances of eligible households vary, we will not mandate local authorities to apply a fixed tenancy duration for housing funded through the fund, though in some cases this may be appropriate.

Round 4 resettlement properties are intended to provide settled accommodation for ARP households, in the event a home for the ARP cohort becomes available within a 3-year period of the home coming into use, we would expect that home to be offered to another ARP family. Beyond that we expect that Round 4 resettlement homes should become available to support wider local authority general housing and homelessness responsibilities after the needs of the eligible cohort have been addressed.

If LAHF homes are sold, to ensure grant funding provides a long-term social housing legacy, we expect either the grant to be returned or any receipts to be re-invested into social or affordable housing.

5. Cohort definition and eligibility

5.1 Round 4 TA element

Those eligible for the Round 4 TA element properties are those owed a homelessness duty by the local authority. Given the purpose of this funding, we expect that families will be the primary recipients.

5.2 Round 4 resettlement element

Those eligible for the Round 4 resettlement element properties are those who are on the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP) and have not already moved into settled accommodation or received an offer of accommodation under the one allocation policy as set out in the ARP policy guidance.

6. How LAHF R4 funding is allocated

As with LAHF R1, R2 and R3, this fund will operate only in England. Local authorities have been allocated capital funding under section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003 based on a funding formula to prioritise areas with the highest local housing pressures, using a grant per property model. Delivery targets are based upon this funding allocation.

6.1 Funding formula

The initial funding offer has been offered to local authorities in England, who are deemed to have the greatest need for this funding based on account of local housing pressures.

The formula gives local authorities an overall ranking based on several sets of data. This combines their relative ranking in terms of the level of housing pressures which includes:

• private rented sector rents in relation to income
• unemployment rate
• number of households in TA per 1,000 households
• number of families in nightly paid and B&B TA

This data is used to ensure the areas of both existing and future highest housing pressure are prioritised in the funding allocation mechanism.

The formula is used to identify the total allocation to those local authorities in scope for funding across the duration of the four-year fund.

6.2 Indicative allocations

Initial indicative allocations have been offered to each local authority, working from the top of the ranking downwards, on the basis of:

• 1 TA unit allocated per 13 families in a combined and weighted calculation of nightly-paid/B&B TA and out of area TA placements, weighted 3:1 to the nightly-paid/B&B figure. A 40% grant per unit as detailed in 6.3
  • An initial cap of 120 TA units over the four years is applied
  • TA units are allocated down the ranking until funding is expended
• Local authorities who are allocated TA units, are then allocated 1 resettlement unit per 19,000 population (with a minimum of 1 unit allocated), but not to exceed the number of TA units allocated. Every even numbered resettlement unit is allocated as a large resettlement unit:
  • R4 resettlement element units with a 40% grant per unit as detailed in 6.3
  • R4 large resettlement element units with a 50% grant per unit as detailed in 6.3
• £21,000 per property for refurbishment and other costs

An indicative revenue funding offer is allocated based on the number of units offered in the initial allocation, adjusted for local labour costs (using an overall borough average in London). This may be adjusted based on the final funding allocation.

Initial allocations are not an absolute cap on delivery, and we encourage local authorities to let us know if they can deliver higher than their initial allocation through the Validation process - see section 9 below.

Local authorities not in scope for a direct funding offer have the opportunity to apply for any unclaimed funding via an Expressions of Interest process.

When making funding allocations MHCLG will consider a local authorities delivery performance under previous rounds of the fund. Prior under delivery, persistent non-reporting or programme compliance concerns may affect allocations under R4.

6.3 Capital grant rates

Total capital allocations per property are calculated as

• a base grant per property
• an additional refurbishment and delivery allowance
• an optional 10% new supply uplift to the grant rate for eligible properties

Base capital grants for:

TA properties

• The TA base grant per property* is calculated as 40% of the median property price in the council or London borough area (or 44% for each property delivered as new supply).

Round 4 resettlement properties

• for resettlement properties the base grant per property* is calculated as 40% of the median property price in the council or London borough area (or 44% for each property delivered as new supply)
• for large resettlement properties the base grant per property* is calculated as 50% of the median property price in the council or London borough area (or 55% for each property delivered as new supply)

*Note: base grants per property will be capped at £300,000 for TA and small resettlement homes and £375,000 for large resettlement homes.

New Supply uplift

To facilitate delivery of new housing supply, an additional 10% uplift will be added to the grant per property for each unit which the local authority agrees will be delivered as a new and additional housing supply, subject to the criteria and definitions set out below.

For this uplift, in LAHF R4 we use new supply to refer to:

• homes that will be delivered in financial years 2028-29 or 2029-30 as direct new developments - these may be directly commissioned or led by the council. We can consider new supply delivery in earlier years where there is a strong case it is truly “additional” (would not be constructed in absence of the funding), by exception, in negotiation with the council.
• conversion or redevelopment of property which delivers additional residential unit(s) (densification)
• change of use (which delivers an extra residential unit)

Where local authorities are seeking to access the new supply uplift (either during the validation/ EOI stage or later in the programme) we will ask for more detail of their proposed new supply to gain assurances on the type and deliverability of these homes. To clarify, where new supply opportunities arise during the course of the programme, after the initial validation stage, local authorities are able to apply to claim the uplift for eligible units (subject to the budget availability).

Note, in LAHF R4, the New Supply uplift will not apply to purchases of new homes already in development e.g. off-the-shelf market sales purchases or s106 discounted affordable housing purchases. Whilst these purchases are not eligible for the New Supply uplift, local authorities can still include them in their standard LAHF R4 delivery (see below at 6.5 regarding LAHF R4 requirements for potential s106 acquisitions).

Refurbishment allowance

The costs of obtaining a property are not the only costs local authorities may incur. They may also need to fund things like refurbishments, energy efficiency measures, legal costs, decoration, furnishings, or otherwise preparing the property for rent. We have included a non-ringfenced additional £21,000 per property to account for this. This is a notional amount for the purposes of allowing for these costs in our formula.

The additional £21,000 per property grant is unaffected by the new supply uplift.

6.4 Revenue grant rates

Revenue funding is allocated as an additional grant per home in a local authority’s initial allocation, adjusted for local labour costs.

During reallocations, additional revenue funding for delivering additional units will be dependent on funding availability. We cannot guarantee that additional revenue funding will be available for all additional units that are delivered.

Revenue funding can be used for any activities which support the timely delivery of a local authority’s LAHF R3 homes including but not limited to programme/ administration resource, professional services (e.g. fees, conveyancing), etc.

6.5 Local authority contribution to LAHF R4 delivery costs

It is up to local authorities to decide how best to deliver the target number of properties using their overall Round 4 allocation. We expect local authorities to deliver homes appropriate for the cohort and of an appropriate size, however it is for local authorities to achieve best value for money from the available grant to meet the programme objectives.

We recognise that the grant will not meet all acquisition/ delivery costs and so we expect that the council, or its partners, will provide the remainder of the funding required.

LAHF R4 capital grants are calculated with reference to median house prices and assume that open market property acquisition or new development will be the primary modes of delivery. Local authorities delivering LAHF R4 have flexibility to adopt alternative delivery routes, however, where they intend to deliver some homes using the methods below, we may expect local authorities to deliver proportionately more homes in view of potentially lower delivery costs:

• refurbishments of existing social housing stock already owned by the council or another registered provider
• purchases discounted via S106 agreements
• delivery using modular or prefabricated units

Local authorities considering these delivery routes should alert MHCLG in advance in their validation/ EOI forms or otherwise LAHF@communities.gov.uk to agree a revised delivery targets (if deemed appropriate).   

7. Matching resettlement households with properties

Allocation offers for the LAHF R4 resettlement homes should be made to ARP households who are currently homeless, at risk of homelessness or living in UK transitional accommodation. All resettlement homes should be submitted for central government matching unless specific local/regional matching agreements are in place. Separate guidance on the matching process will be provided.

We expect that recently arrived households in transitional accommodation will be prioritised for available LAHF R4 properties, as per the prioritisation process set out in the ARP policy guidance. Afghan families who have moved into or received a previous offer of settled accommodation are not eligible for further support under R4. Examples of which includes, a home provided via a council or registered provider (LAHF or other), support to lease within the PRS (Find your own) or Ministry of Defence accommodation (Service family accommodation).

8. When should LAHF R4 homes be delivered?

LAHF R4 is a 4-year programme and initial allocations will be made for delivery across this period. At validation stage we’ll consider local authority requests for alternative delivery profiles. We’ll support these requests if they are affordable within annual budgets and align with overall LAHF R4 programme objectives (which include the sufficient overall programme delivery of TA and resettlement homes in each year). 

9. Validation and EOI processes

We have written to the local authorities that have been initially allocated funding with details of their indicative funding and requesting they complete a validation form. This form confirms if they wish to participate in LAHF R4 and provides details of their intended delivery, including whether any homes delivered will be new supply.

Local authorities may agree to deliver their allocated delivery target exactly as per the initial offer or propose to deliver less or more homes than their allocated delivery target. If we agree for the local authority to deliver less or more homes we will adjust the local authority funding allocation proportionately.

Unclaimed grant from local authorities declining to accept an original allocation (or delivering less homes) will be offered to other local authorities through our reallocations process.   

We expect all local authorities in scope for funding to deliver their allocation of Round 4 resettlement scheme element homes. If local authorities do not commit to providing sufficient homes for this cohort, then their provisional allocation may be reallocated.

We have also written to the local authorities that have not received an initial allocation to ask whether they want to be considered for any unclaimed LAHF R4 funds to deliver the programme objectives, via completion of an Expression of Interest (EOI) form. EOIs will be considered as part of our reallocations process for unclaimed funding (detailed in section 10).

For both processes local authorities do not need to have full approval to participate in LAHF when they submit a form, this stage is intended to provide an indication of which local authorities will be participating.

Proposals will be assessed acknowledging that accountability for delivery rests with the local authority. The assessed section of the forms will consider responses regarding:

• the proposed scale of delivery relative to the indicative allocation
• whether the local authority can deliver the fund objectives and its high-level plans to achieve this
• confirmation that the local authority is content with formal reporting requests every two months from June 2026
• confirmation that the Section 151 Officer or Deputy Section 151 Officer has agreed to participation

We will assess these forms to confirm final funding allocations to each local authority. If we have reasonable concerns about a local authority’s ability to deliver their proposed number of homes, based on their delivery performance to date in LAHF R1/ R2/ R3 we reserve the right to withhold or reallocate funds.

We also ask some wider non-assessed questions about your delivery plans to aid programme delivery monitoring, policy development and evaluation design.

All forms must be returned by 5pm on 19 December 2025. We cannot guarantee that funding will remain available for any local authorities that miss this deadline, as after this date we will reallocate any unclaimed funding.

10. Reallocations of unclaimed funds

We will reallocate unclaimed funds from local authorities who cannot deliver some or all units in their indicative allocation. All local authorities can be considered for access to these funds (including local authorities given an initial allocation) via the validation and EOI processes. We will also use these submissions to reallocate funding returned after programme launch.

Where local authorities are seeking unclaimed funds to deliver additional homes, we expect that these additional homes should normally provide at least 1 additional resettlement home per 2 additional TA homes to achieve the overall LAHF R4 programme objectives.

We may apply a cap on the additional homes allocated to local authorities through the reallocation process.  

Any additional delivery agreed will use the same capital grant per property (detailed at 6.3).

Revenue funding for additional delivery will be provided as per the grant rates per property detailed at 6.4, subject to revenue funding availability.

11. Confirming allocations

We will review forms as we receive them and will confirm to local authorities whether we will be proceeding with an allocation in early 2026. We aim to finalise all allocations by w/c 2 March 2026.  

12. Memoranda of understanding (MOU)

When we confirm the outcome of the validation and EOI review process, we will share a MOU with each local authority to seek agreement on their final allocation. This will include any new or additional funding agreed as part of the reallocations process.

The MOU includes standard wording for all local authorities participating in LAHF R4 and is non-negotiable. The MOU will not impact any agreements made with local authorities that are also participating in LAHF R1 and/or R2 and R3; this will be a new MOU specific to LAHF R4.

The standard MOU template was shared with local authorities in initial email communications. We strongly encourage all local authorities to begin seeking agreement of the terms of the MOU immediately upon receipt of the template to ensure timely agreement of the completed MOU once we have completed our review of the validation form. We expect local authorities to obtain necessary clearances to enter into a MOU with MHCLG based on the information they provided in the validation form.

We ask all local authorities to show flexibility in how they apply their approvals processes in order to participate in this fund so delivery may begin as soon as possible in 2026. The first tranche of funding will be distributed to the local authority on the nearest payment date (detailed in Table 1) following the signing of the MOU. Local authorities will ultimately be responsible for delivery and ensuring value for money of the allocation they have received.

13. Payment process

LAHF R4 funding will be allocated directly to local authorities under Section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003 with an accompanying grant determination letter alongside the MOU setting out delivery expectations.

Capital funding will be paid in 8 tranches, with 2 in each financial year of the programme, linked to delivery milestones.

Year 1 payment milestones and deadlines are set out in Table 1 below. Milestones and deadlines for all years are set out in the MOU.

Table 1: Year 1 payments timetable

Payments	Requirements for payment milestone	Target payment schedule
Tranche 1 allocation	MOU signed with MHCLG	By 17 April 2026 (if an MOU is signed by 13 March 2026 Or By 15 May 2026 (if an MOU is signed by 10 April 2026)
Tranche 2 allocation	Statement of Grant Usage (SOGU) demonstrating 60% of Tranche 1 has been committed, AND Satisfactory monitoring information (MI) submitted to date.	By 17 July 2026 (if an MOU is signed by 12 June 2026 and all MI submitted to schedule) Or By 21 August 2026 (if an MOU is signed by 17 July 2026 and all MI submitted to schedule) (With further payment windows TBC)

Local authorities should be aware that failure to meet the specified delivery milestone deadlines for payment of the two tranches each year may lead to reallocation of their future years grant allocation.

For local authorities seeking to accelerate delivery, both yearly tranches may be paid combined early in the financial year, if the relevant delivery milestones have been met for both tranches.  

Revenue funding for LAHF R4 will be paid in Tranche 1 (year 1, 2026-27) and Tranche 5 (year 3, 2028-29).   

Note all payments are dependent on local authorities’ regular and timely completion of delivery monitoring information (MI) every two months.

Failure to submit required MI may result in reallocation of remaining funds.

14. Compliance and monitoring

14.1 Fraud Risk Assessments (FRA)

Local authorities shall be responsible for ensuring that avoiding fraud is a key consideration in all spend activity and that the following minimum standards are met:

• follow the Grants Functional Standards on Fraud Risk Assessment – Section 7: Risk, Controls and Assurance – pages 15 to 19
• undertake FRAs at an appropriate level to each individual project dependent on risk
• ensure that this spend is undertaken in accordance with effective authority fraud prevention policy and procedure, and via engagement with your organisations’ specialists in this area
• ensure that relevant evidence and data to prevent fraud is gathered as part of due diligence undertaken ahead of releasing funds
• implement reporting and monitoring requirements that will identify irregularities or issues in use of funds which can be investigated further
• store and file all work undertaken on FRA in the event of any issues or audit requirements

14.2 Subsidy control

Loca Authorities should check any related subsidy that they may provide complies with the subsidy control requirements. UK guidance for public authorities on subsidy control is detailed in the GOV.UK statutory guidance. The guidance outlines a step-by-step process for compliance, which includes determining if a measure is a subsidy, assessing it against the subsidy control principles, and ensuring any large subsidies are referred to the Subsidy Advice Unit (SAU) for a review before a commitment is made. Public authorities with further questions about their obligations under the Act are encouraged to contact with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) subsidy control team or other specialist subsidy control teams, who can provide support and guidance on the application of the subsidy control requirements (subsidycontrol@businessandtrade.gov.uk).

14.3 Due diligence

Local authorities shall be responsible for ensuring that proportional due diligence is applied to all this fund spend and that the following minimum standards are met:

• follow the Grants Functional Standards on Due Diligence – Section 7: Risk, Controls and Assurance – pages 20 to 24
• undertake due diligence at an appropriate level to each individual project dependent on risk
• ensure that due diligence is undertaken in accordance with effective authority rules and procedures through authorities’ teams specialising in this area
• ensure that key areas of due diligence identified for projects in which local authorities invest are reported on and monitored throughout the term of delivery
• store and file all work undertaken on due diligence in the event of any issues or audit requirements

14.4 How we will monitor performance and delivery

Local authorities participating in LAHF R4 will agree via memoranda of understanding (MOUs) to provide a mix of quantitative and qualitative summary updates to MHCLG every 2 months to track progress against agreed delivery milestones. The reports will be due every two months until delivery is completed, with the first monitoring touchpoint to take place in June 2026.

To monitor delivery, we will ask for progress updates, every two months, regardless of whether the local authority has reached a spending threshold.

Details of the monitoring information required and dates by which it is required is set out in MOUs with local authorities.

If local authorities are working in collaboration with other local authorities to deliver their LAHF R4 allocations jointly, they should contact lahf@communities.gov.uk  to discuss streamlined reporting arrangements.

Local authorities should be aware that failure to meet the specified delivery milestone deadlines may lead to reallocation of their future years grant allocation.

14.5 Future evaluation requests

MHCLG will conduct an evaluation of the fund after the end of the monitoring period. To understand how the fund is being delivered in further detail, we will ask local authorities, in addition to the monitoring information above, for additional information outlined in MOUs with local authorities.

We expect that local authorities will respond to any reasonable additional requests from MHCLG to support any retrospective assessment or evaluation as to the impact or value for money of the fund. We will expect the authority to, at minimum, monitor spend, outputs and outcomes against agreed indicators and keep this information for at least five years.

We may also ask for details about how the acquired properties are being used, for example if they are still publicly owned (which we expect) and if they have become part of the local authority’s social housing or affordable stock. This will require local authorities to maintain address-level data. This is for us to examine the legacy impacts of the fund.

15. Next steps and important dates

Local authorities who have been made an indicative allocation are asked to complete a validation form to confirm their interest in participating and to set out how they intend to deliver this fund. The validation form is available via a link in the allocations email. Local authorities are strongly encouraged to start their clearance processes as soon as possible after receiving the information on their indicative allocations.

Local authorities who have not been made an indicative allocation are asked to complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) form if they want to be considered for unclaimed funds to deliver the LAHF programme. The EOI form is available via a link in the EOI email.

Allocations and EOI emails, including the validation form links, have been sent to local authority chief executives. Please contact the LAHF team at lahf@communities.gov.uk if the email has not been received.

Submissions will be reviewed as they are received and therefore forms submitted earlier may receive an earlier response.

Local authorities must submit their validation or EOIs form by 19 December 2025 5pm. Forms will only be accepted if submitted via the links in the allocations and EOI emails.

In the event we have any clarification questions about the contents of a form, we will contact the local authority directly for further detail.

We will review forms as we receive them, and will confirm to local authorities whether we will be proceeding with an allocation in early 2026. We aim to finalise all allocations by week commencing 2 March 2026.

We strongly encourage all local authorities to begin seeking agreement of the terms of the MOU immediately upon receipt of the template to ensure timely agreement of the completed MOU once an allocation is confirmed. Delayed return of signed MOU may lead to reallocation of a local authorities grant allocation.

Payment of the first tranche of funding will take place in from April 2026 depending on when the local authority returns a signed MOU to us.

16. Contact and documents

For any questions about this fund please contact lahf@communities.gov.uk. 

Fund documents will also be uploaded to the library within the LAHF section of the Local Government Association hosted knowledge hub. Local authorities are encouraged to register for this group which has been created to facilitate discussion and shared learning between local authorities participating in LAHF.