Cameron Claims Housing Benefit Cuts Have Slashed Rents

Prime Minister David Cameron has claimed that the Government's housing benefit cuts have brought down rent levels across the country, despite evidence to suggest that they are continuing to reach record highs. Mr Cameron was quizzed in the commons by Labour MP Joan Ruddock about plans to extend the Shared Accommodation Rate (SAR). This will see those aged 35 or under receive only the lower shared room rate rather than the full rate for a one-bed flat. In response, Mr Cameron said that since the Coalition had implemented some of its housing benefit reforms, rent levels had come down. He said: "All parties are committed, as I understand it, to reform housing benefit…it was unacceptable and it had to change and what we've seen so far, as housing benefit has been reformed and reduced, is that actually we have seen rent levels come down. So we've stopped ripping off the taxpayer." Read more on 24dash.