Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment his Department has made of the (a) accessibility of the private rental sector to young people moving on from supported accommodation and (b) barriers faced by young people trying to move on from supported accommodation into the private rental sector; and what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on that matter.

Whilst my Department has not made a formal assessment, we recognise the importance of supporting vulnerable young people, including those staying in supported accommodation, into independent living for example in the private rented sector and we keep this and similar issues under regular review. Ministers in my Department and in the Department for Work and Pensions meet regularly on a range of matters.

We are already undertaking a range of wider action that should also help vulnerable young people with their onward housing needs. We have also taken action to support people, including young people, with renting property in the private rented sector, and we will go further to bring in a better deal for renters.