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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support the Government provides to tenants in the private rented sector to ensure they are not priced out of their accommodation.

We believe the key to improving affordability for tenants is to build more homes for rent. Institutional investment in purpose-built privately rented homes is increasing, with over 29,000 homes delivered since 2012, and around 110,000 in the pipeline. We supported the Build to Rent sector with a £3.5 billion Private Rented Sector Guarantee Scheme and changes to the National Planning Policy Framework.

We are also committed to making housing for rent more affordable now. This includes:

• banning lettings fees paid by tenants and capping tenancy deposits with the Tenant Fees Bill, which will come into force on 1 June 2019.

• supporting landlords and tenants to agree appropriate rent increases through the free-to-use model tenancy agreement.

• supporting tenants that have difficulty paying the rent via Targeted Affordability Funding that will top-up Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates in areas where affordability pressures are greatest.

• providing an enhanced Discretionary Housing Payment fund for Local Authorities to protect the most vulnerable claimants impacted by welfare reforms such as the freeze to LHA rates.

• making £20 million available through the Private Rented Sector (PRS) Access Fund to enable better access and sustainment of tenancies for people who are, or at risk of becoming, homeless.