Affordable Housing 'Trap' Warning From MPs

A government scheme to provide more affordable housing in England could trap some of its poorest residents on benefits, a committee of MPs warns. The Commons Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) said in a report that properties built under the Affordable Homes Programme will cost more to rent.  This is after the government negotiated a much lower grant with providers.  The government says the scheme will deliver 53,000 more affordable homes than under the previous funding model.  In its report, the CPAC also raised concerns about whether the programme would deliver the houses ministers have promised. The committee also said it was also "not yet clear" whether the reduced grants would save money in the long term.  The grants are £20,000 per home on average, a third of those from a predecessor scheme. 

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