HL Deb 14 January 1997 vol 577 cc26-7WA
Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In the light of the housing benefit changes proposed for single people under 60, what estimate has been made of the numbers of non self-contained units of accommodation in the private sector in England, Scotland and Wales.

The Minister of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish)

It is estimated that in 1995-96 210,000 privately renting households were in non self-contained accommodation in England and there were in addition 150,000 lodgers. There are also individuals who share houses and flats and this accommodation is generally non self-contained. In England there were an estimated 140,000 tenancies (separate agreements with the landlord) in multi-tenancy households and 450,000 individuals in tenancies consisting of unrelated adults in single tenancy households. These estimates are from the Survey of English Housing.

From the Welsh Social Survey there were an estimated 15,000 privately renting households in non self-contained accommodation in Wales in 1992. No information is available for Scotland.

Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In the light of the housing benefit changes proposed for single people under 60, what estimate has been made of the numbers of units of accommodation in the private rented sector in England, Scotland and Wales where the tenant has exclusive use of one bedroom, does not have the use of any other bedroom or room suitable for living in, shares the use of a toilet, either shares a kitchen or has no use of a kitchen, and where the rent does not include a payment for board and attendance.

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish

From the Survey of English Housing it is estimated that in 1995-96 90,000 privately renting households in England had exclusive use of one bedroom; had no use of any other rooms; shared a toilet; either shared a kitchen or had no use of a kitchen; and did not have meals included in the rent. The comparable figure for Wales, from the 1992 Welsh Social Survey, is 10,000. No information is available for Scotland.

It is also estimated that in England a large proportion of some 700,000 lodgers and flat and house sharers in single and multi-tenancy households are likely to have such accommodation.