Benefit Cut Raises Housing Concerns For U'25s

Homelessness charities have raised concerns about the ability of young people to access housing in the private sector following housing benefit cuts brought in this month. The Government has extended the threshold for the Shared Accommodation Rate (SAR) from age 25 to 35. Alice Evans, head of policy at Homeless Link said “It has always been hard to get young people into shared accommodation because you had to convince landlords they were a good proposition as a tenant. Now they’re competing with people who are over 25, potentially in full time work and with a history of managing a tenancy.” The Shared Accommodation Rate (SAR) extension has come in this month for new claimants. Existing claimants will be affected nine months after their claim is reassessed. Read more on 24dash.