Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing – Parliamentary Written Answer

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will estimate the average cost of moving house for people who move as a consequence of the under-occupancy penalty; and if he will make it his policy to provide a subsidy for such costs. 

Kris Hopkins: The Department does not hold this information.

The removal of the spare room subsidy is estimated to save £490 million of taxpayers' money in Great Britain in 2013-14 by reducing the benefit bill, helping pay off the budget deficit left by the last Administration. The measure also encourages the more effective use of social housing, by addressing the under-occupation of family homes.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will make an assessment of the effect of the under-occupancy penalty on social cohesion in neighbourhoods in which a high proportion of tenants are affected by that policy. 

Kris Hopkins: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to him of 22 November 2013, Official Report, columns 1072-1073W.