MP Tables Motion against Shared Room Rate

Stephen Gilbert, MP, who is chair of the all party parliamentary group on housing has tabled a motion calling for the government to drop plans to raise the age at which housing benefit claimants can only receive the value of a room within shared accommodation from 25 to 35. Under government plans, single people under 35 will be offered a shared room rate rather than a single room rate. Many fear the changes will force young people into shared accommodation. Mr Gilbert said: ‘This change will damage families, create perverse incentives, and institutionalise the notion that people can’t aspire to live by themselves until their mid-thirties. Read more on Inside Housing.