Social Rented Housing: Rents – Parliamentary Written Answer

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to Clauses 19 to 22 of the draft Welfare Reform and Work Bill, whether the compulsory one per cent annual reduction of rents in social housing will apply to housing association tenants on affordable rents.

Brandon Lewis: Clause 19 of the draft Welfare Reform and Work Bill requires registered providers of social housing in England to reduce the rents payable by their individual tenants by 1% per annum for four years from 1 April 2016. The reductions will apply to rented social housing, including Affordable Rent properties. Exceptions are set out in clause 20 and in subsequent regulations. We intend to clarify how rents for new tenancies starting after 1 April 2016 will be set, and how the reductions will apply to these tenancies.