The professional body
for the property sector

New evidence that pensioners are going without food and heating adds greater urgency to our longstanding call for the UK Government to re-link Local Housing Allowance (LHA) to market rents. At the Autumn Budget on 28 October 2026, the Chancellor must restore rates to cover at least the cheapest 30% of local rents, backed by annual increases to prevent support falling behind again.

A proposed rent increase can lead to a smaller rise or even a reduction in the rent already payable. We have examined four recent First-tier Tribunal decisions made in August and September 2026 involving properties in Leeds, Manchester, Ashton-under-Lyne, and London. Each shows how the property’s market rental value was assessed and highlights why letting agents and landlords need clear rental evidence, accurate property descriptions, and a realistic assessment of condition.

The capital’s draft planning strategy proposes more than half a million new homes over ten years, alongside investment in infrastructure, commercial space, and greener neighbourhoods. We support these ambitions, but our members’ experience across London’s property sectors highlights the gap between identifying land for housing and delivering homes that can be financed, built, and occupied. We have called for a more practical approach to delivery that gives greater recognition to the role of the private rented sector and existing buildings.