Social Rented Housing – Parliamentary Written Answer

Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the proposed cap on household benefit entitlement on the ability of registered social landlords to ( a) build family-sized accommodation in all regions and (b) set rents at 80 per cent. of market value.
Grant Shapps: When setting rents, it is expected that providers will, where possible, utilise the flexibility to charge rents at 80% of local market rents in order to maximise delivery of new homes, but landlords should take into account a number of factors, including the proposed reforms of the welfare system. We will be publishing an impact assessment on the affordable rent model shortly. Our affordable rent proposals will help increase the provision of new affordable housing, helping provide below-market rents to a greater number of households who would otherwise not have access to affordable housing.