Labour Attempts To Water Down Pay To Stay

Labour MPs have tabled a series of amendments to proposed legislation in an attempt to water down the government’s Pay to Stay policy.  Shadow ministers are attempting to alter the government’s plans to force higher-income social housing tenants to pay up to market rent. Under the proposed policy, tenants with a household income of £30,000 or more (£40,000 in London) would pay higher rents. Labour is seeking exemptions for people aged 65 years or older, carers, those in receipt of care, disabled people, people on zero-hours contracts, people on housing benefit and those with seasonal contracts of employment.  This follows concern that the £30,000 threshold is too low and will lead to some housing benefit claimants having to pay more rent. Read more on Inside Housing.