Fact sheet: Universal Credit and private rented housing

After campaigning over several years, Propertymark welcomes the House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee’s recommendations of an annual uprate of working-age benefits and Local Housing Allowance (LHA).

Around 1.6 million private renters are set to receive an uplift to their housing support for 12 months from April 2024, as the UK Government lays legislation to raise Local Housing Allowance (LHA). The increase will benefit some of the poorest families on either Universal Credit or Housing Benefits who will gain around £800 a year on average.

Local Housing Allowance (LHA) will at last be unfrozen and Universal Credit (UC) will rise under UK Government tax and spending plans announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt, MP, today, 22 November 2023. Rate relief and full expensing for businesses are also included.

The Department for Work and Pensions will recommence the Private Rented Sector (PRS) Universal Credit Engagement Group following Propertymark's continued lobbying.