Social Rented Housing – Parliamentary Written Answer

Alex Cunningham:To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether he plans for the one per cent reduction in social housing rents announced in the Summer Budget 2015 to apply to (a) supported accommodation claimed as specified accommodation under the Housing Benefit and Universal Credit (Supported Accommodation) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 and (b) other hostel accommodation for the single homeless.

Mr Marcus Jones:In order to reduce the Housing Benefit bill, the Government has taken the decision to bring rent increases within the social sector back into line with the private rented sector. But we acknowledge that there may be some circumstances where the rent reduction policy should not apply. In particular, the types of accommodation that are current excepted under the Rent Standard such as specialised supported accommodation are likely to remain excepted. We are considering whether the existing definition is appropriate in light of the revised policy and will be setting out the details in legislation.