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Cambridge Centre for Housing & Planning Research

 

A new report into what Local Authorities and Housing Associations in Wales can do to increase the economically viable provision of affordable accommodation for young single people under 35 in the social housing sector.

Forthcoming cuts to Housing Benefit will reduce payments to social tenants if their rent is currently higher than the amount of Housing Benefit they would receive in the private rented sector. For single people under 35 this means that their housing benefit will be capped at the level deemed necessary to rent a room in a shared house, which may be significantly lower than rents on one bedroom social rented flats. In addition, some 18-21 year olds will lose all entitlement to Housing Benefit.

This research was commissioned by Community Housing Cymru and the Welsh Local Government Association. It drew on a survey of young people in Wales, focus groups, interviews with key stakeholders and landlords and analysis of data on current living patterns.

Please click here to see the report