Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the local reference rent levels for each broad rental market area published on 30 April 2019 are based upon the median of market rents for each area.

The Local Reference Rent is determined in accordance with the formula set out in the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 1997 for calculating a median rent. The Local Reference Rent is based upon the number of bedrooms and living rooms within the property.