Nearly £11bn Housing Benefit Paid To Private Landlords By 2019

Nearly £11 billion in housing benefit will be paid to private landlords by 2019, sparking criticism that the government is inflating the housing market by encouraging buy-to-let. The latest DWP figures show £9.5 billion will be spent on housing benefit this financial year, a figure set to grow to £10.8 billion by 2018/19. This is nearly 40 per cent of the annual housing benefit bill, a figure expected to remain broadly consistent by 2019. Generation Rent – a pressure group which represents young tenants – said this ‘subsidy’ is encouraging the popularity of buy-to-let, propelling property prices higher and making homes less affordable for those renting.  Download the figures from the GovUK website.