Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Benefit Claimants: Rent Arrears

Monday 8 March 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Bob Blackman asked how many benefit claimants are in rent arrears and what action the government will take to address this issue.
  • The government does not collect individual rent account information but offers alternative payment arrangements for universal credit claimants with rent arrears.
  • Managed payments to landlords are available for universal credit claimants who cannot manage monthly payments and are at risk of financial harm.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Bob Blackman Con Harrow East
Housing Benefits & Welfare
Context

No specific background provided.

Question

How many and what proportion of benefit claimants are in rent arrears. The National Residential Landlords Association and housing charities have shown that rent arrears are growing rapidly, and it will be difficult to repay them. What action will the government take to ensure rent arrears are eliminated and further assistance is provided to people who genuinely cannot afford to pay their rent?

Answer from Will Quince

We do not collect information about individuals' rent accounts. For universal credit claimants with rent arrears, alternative payment arrangements and support with budgeting are available. Managed payment to a landlord is an option where universal credit claimants are unable to manage monthly payments and are at risk of financial harm. The tenant, landlord or work coach can request this managed payment through our online tool. UC also enables recovery of rent when a tenancy reaches two months' rent arrears.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions to eliminate rent arrears and provide further assistance were not fully addressed.

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Q2 Bob Blackman Con Harrow East
Housing Benefits & Welfare
Context

Rent arrears are growing and it is difficult for benefit claimants to repay them. There is a need for further assistance.

Question

The evidence shows that rent arrears are growing very fast such that they will probably never be repaid. What action will my hon. Friend take to ensure that rent arrears are eliminated and further assistance is provided to people who genuinely cannot afford to pay their rent?

Answer from Will Quince

Managed payment to a landlord is available where universal credit claimants are unable to manage monthly payments and are at risk of financial harm. This can be requested by the tenant, landlord or work coach. Our online tool makes it easier for landlords to request managed payments. UC also enables recovery of rent when a tenancy reaches two months' rent arrears.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions to eliminate rent arrears and provide further assistance were not fully addressed.

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Q3 Karen Buck Lab
Benefits & Welfare
Context

More than half of the 1.3 million universal credit households claiming housing support for properties in the private rented sector have a shortfall between rent charged and help available. This number has increased by a quarter of a million since the start of the pandemic.

Question

Of the 1.3 million universal credit households who are claiming housing support for their properties in the private rented sector, more than half face a shortfall between the rent being charged and the help available. With housing support cut again in the Budget, will the Minister answer this one question? Will that number have gone up or fallen during the remainder of 2021?

Answer from Will Quince

We increased local housing allowance rates in April 2020, lifting rates to the 30th percentile, giving an average increase of £600 more housing support per year than would otherwise have been received. For 2021-22, all LHA rates will be maintained at the increased level. Discretionary housing payments worth nearly £140 million are available next year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific trend of the number of households with shortfalls during 2021 was not addressed.

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