Asked by: Chris Grayling (Conservative - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
What recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of local housing allowance; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Will Quince
In April 2020 Local Housing Allowance rates were set at the 30th percentile of local rents, costing nearly £1 billion and providing - on average - 1.5 million households with an increase of £600 per year.
I can also confirm that the increase to Local Housing Allowance rates will be maintained in cash terms in the next financial year, to continue supporting our claimants to manage housing costs.
Asked by: Chris Grayling (Conservative - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to Answer 2 November to Question 107609, if she will make an assessment of the number of properties on the rental market in Epsom and Ewell which fall into the lower quartile financial limits for housing support.
Answered by Will Quince
We do not currently hold information to make such an assessment.
Asked by: Chris Grayling (Conservative - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate she has made of the number of properties on the rental market in Epsom and Ewell which fall into the lower quartile financial limits for housing support.
Answered by Will Quince
There has been no such assessment.
In April we increased Local Housing Allowance rates for Housing Benefit and Universal Credit to the lowest 30 percent of local rents. This includes all rates in Outer South London and Outer South West London, the two Broad Rental Market Areas which fall within Epsom and Ewell. This significant investment of almost £1billion, ensures over 1 million households will see an increase, on average, of £600 this year.