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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide a package of financial support to enable tenants to pay off arrears accrued due to the COVID-19 pandemic in order (1) to prevent the risk of evictions when the ban comes to an end, and (2) to support smaller landlords.

The Government has established an unprecedented package of support to protect tenants and landlords throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, with support for businesses to pay staff salaries and strengthening the welfare safety-net with a nearly £9.3billion boost to the welfare system. This includes an extra £1billion to increase Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates so that they cover the lowest 30% of market rents. These measures are supporting both landlords and tenants by enabling renters to continue paying their rent.

For those renters who require additional support, there is an existing £180 million of Government funding for Discretionary Housing Payments made available this year, an increase of £40 million from last year and which is for councils to distribute to support renters with housing costs.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely throughout the Autumn and Winter.