Benefits freeze will force tenants into poverty, warns NRLA

The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) highlights that nearly half of private renters receiving housing benefits face a shortfall between their Local Housing Allowance (LHA) and rent costs. With a planned freeze on LHA rates in April, the NRLA warns this will worsen the situation, pushing tens of thousands into poverty. They advocate for re-pegging LHA rates to cover at least the lowest 30% of rents.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation predicts that freezing LHA rates will lead to 50,000 renters falling into poverty, with many facing even deeper financial hardship. Amid fierce competition for rental properties—averaging 12 renters per home—the NRLA argues that freezing LHA rates undermines tenants’ ability to secure housing. They call for urgent action to address this growing crisis.