Housing benefit paid to private landlords doubles.
August 22, 2016
A study undertaken by the National Housing Federation (NHF) reveals that private landlords hauled in £9.3bn in 2015, that is double what the level was ten years ago, they said the figure was due to a huge increase in private tenants who are receiving housing benefit.
NHF chief executive David Orr said: “It is madness to spend £9bn of taxpayers’ money lining the pockets of private landlords rather than investing in affordable homes.”
“The lack of affordable housing available means that a wider group of people need housing benefit.”
One in three (32%) Housing Benefit recipients are private renters and almost half (47%) of all private rented households in receipt of Housing Benefit are in work.
To read the NHF report in full click here
You May Also Enjoy
Five real estate opportunities to watch in 2026
By Daniel Austin, CEO and co-founder at ASK Partners The 2025 Autumn Budget offered limited stimulus for the housing market and, persistent headwinds such as sticky inflation, higher for longer interest rates, elevated construction costs, and slow planning processes continue to impact development viability. But there are still reasons for cautious optimism. The UK economy…
Read More 
Autumn Budget 2025: What It Means for Buyers, Renters and Landlords
Budget headlines for the property sector: Landlords and property investors are the most directly affected, with slightly higher tax on rental income and frozen tax thresholds. Very high‑value homeowners (£2m+) face a new recurring annual charge from 2028. Renters don’t see direct tax changes, but may end up paying more in rent due to increased…
Read More 
Rightmove’s Most Searched Locations in 2025
Rightmove reveals some of the trends which defined the 2025 property market, from the most viewed homes to the most searched for locations UK’s top property hotspots: London, Manchester, and Glasgow are the most searched for locations in 2025 Capital crowns: Wimbledon, Fulham, and Chiswick are the most searched-for London spots for buyers, while Canary…
Read More 
Consistent support for apprenticeships helps construction
The Government has announced a £725 million package of reforms to the apprenticeship system, including £140m for a Mayoral pilot programme. Richard Beresford, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), said: “The consistent messaging from politicians that apprenticeships should be valued as highly as degrees is fantastic and will be of great benefit…
Read More 
6 tips for a stress-free Christmas move
With an average of 87,000 home sales taking place during the month of December, Property DriveBuy has compiled practical advice for those due to complete this festive season, a time already known for being one of the busiest and most emotionally charged periods of the year. Despite this bringing the potential for a more stressful…
Read More 
Why 2026 could be the year the market turns
How policy, land and confidence will shape the recovery By Tim Foreman, Managing Director of Land and New Homes, LRG In property sales there are people who need to move and people who want to move. In the last few years, only those who have had to move have been active. Once conditions improve, those…
Read More