Working families to be hit by housing support freeze

Housing charity Shelter has revealed the potentially devastating impact of government plans to freeze housing benefit for private renters, with new research showing just under 36,000 working families in the South West could be affected.

Housing benefit helps families on lower incomes to pay their rent, and is already restricted to cover rents in the cheapest third of privately rented homes. The freeze, which comes into force next April, will see housing benefit frozen at its current level until 2020.

Worryingly, this comes at a time when private rents are climbing, outstripping average wage growth across the region and making it increasingly difficult for families to find anywhere they can afford to live.

By analysing rent rises across the region, the housing and homelessness charity found that in half of the area working families would face a shortfall in support of at least £50 a month by 2020.

The charity is warning that with housing benefit falling far short of private rents many families could be forced to take ever more desperate measures to pay their rent, or face losing their home.

Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, said: “This looming freeze could push thousands of working families in the South West to the brink. Already struggling to bridge the gap between relentless rent rises and welfare cuts, many of those hit will face an uphill battle to keep a roof over their children’s heads, and put food on the table.

Anyone who is worried about losing their home can get free and independent, expert advice from Shelter at www.shelter.org.uk/advice or by calling the helpline on 0808 800 4444.