To ask His Majesty's Government, following reports that the average tenant household spends 35.3 per cent of their income on rent, what steps they are taking to alleviate financial strain on tenants in the private rental sector.
Answered on
12 December 2023
The Government recognises the cost of living pressures that tenants are facing, and that paying rent is likely to be a tenant’s biggest monthly expense. We are continuing to support households with the high cost of living, providing support worth £104 billion over 2022-25, or £3,700 per household on average.
From April 2024, we will be investing £1.2 billion restoring Local Housing Allowance rates to the 30th percentile of local market rents. This significant investment will mean 1.6 million low income households will gain, on average, nearly £800 per year in additional help towards their rental costs in 2024/25.
Discretionary Housing Payments are available to help meet a shortfall in housing costs, Cost of Living Payments are available this year to households on mean-tested benefits, those on disability benefits, and pensioners, and the Household Support Fund has been extended to help with the cost of essentials.