Under 22’s will no longer automatically qualify for housing benefit.
Housing benefit will shortly no longer be available for 18-21 year-olds after ministers have decided to go ahead with controversial plans to force young unemployed people to live with their parents or pay their own rent. New Universal Credit regulations state that jobless under-22s will no longer qualify for help with their rental costs, the policy will only apply to new claims for Universal Credit made after April 1.
Both Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Housing John Healey and Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron were quick to condemn the decisions.
Commenting on the Government’s move to restrict the automatic entitlement of 18-21 year olds to claim housing benefit, Richard Lambert, Chief Executive Officer of the National Landlords Association said: “The Government has effectively closed the door to private rented housing for some of the most vulnerable individuals in society.
“Never mind the nuances, all landlords will hear is that 18-21 year olds are no longer entitled to housing benefit. Faced with a young person who may not be able to pay the rent, a landlord won’t worry about the details of their life, they just won’t consider them as a tenant.
“However much the Government tries to make this policy more palatable by talking up the exemptions, it still leaves a nasty taste in the mouth.”
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