§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of people receiving benefit, where the level of housing benefit has been capped in line with the local reference rate, on the overall availability of private rented accommodation; [38895]
(2) what assessment he has made of the extent to which the private rented sector will be used only by people with a guaranteed income capable of paying the levels of rent demanded following the capping of housing benefit levels. [38871]
§ Mr. ClappisonUnder the changes to the housing benefit system, housing benefit will continue to meet in full rents at or below the general level of rent for similar accommodation in the same locality. Even where the market rent is above the general level, housing benefit will meet half the excess. The effect of the new system will depend on the decisions landlords and tenants reach on rents locally and we will be monitoring this closely.
The Housing White Paper made it clear that we see the private rented sector as an important complement to social housing for people on low incomes. We are committed to providing an effective housing benefit system that enables low income households to rent in the private sector.