Cap on social housing sector rents U-turn – LHA cap will no longer apply

The LHA rates are set by individual local authorities working out a median figure of the lower 30% of market rents within their boundaries meaning that the LHA rate varies between local authorities.  The amount of LHA paid is also inclusive of service charges.

The impact to tenants would mean that many would be unable to cover their rent payments or pay for the services they receive from providers (especially supported housing).

Providers, in turn, would have difficulty recovering the rents and service charges as a result of the tenant’s affordability issues.  As a result, Providers have held back on new schemes that these issues might affect, and have prepared for changes to the services they provide with a view that they will only provide those services that are truly essential and affordable.

Following extensive lobbying and campaigns, the Government announced on 25 October 2017 that they will no longer apply the LHA cap for supported accommodation and the wider social housing sector as a whole.   Given the highlighted issues, it has a huge impact.

It is important to note though that the overall benefit cap (currently £23,000 for those inside Greater London or £20,000 for those outside Greater London) remains.

The Government has followed up the announcement by introducing two consultations; one on housing costs for sheltered and extra-care accommodation, and one on housing costs for short-term supported accommodation.

The proposals put out to consultation are to split supported housing into three broad groups (long-term support; short-term and transitional support; and sheltered housing and extra-care support).  The consultation also proposes different funding streams for each category of supported housing would use (through the current welfare system; local authority funding; or through a new ‘sheltered rent’ payment that would be introduced as part of the welfare system).

Having removed the LHA cap though, the consultation includes discussion on a new “Sheltered Rent”.  So the LHA announcement on its own is unlikely to kick-start the (very many) stalled extra-care housing developments.

Vital short-term accommodation is needed as efforts increase to tackle homelessness.  Ring-fenced grants received by the local authority will provide funding for short-term accommodation.  This payment will cover all the housing costs (including rent and eligible service charges).

The new funding regimes for supported housing are due to be effective from April 2020.

Both consultations will close on 23 January 2018; you can see the full consultation paper here.

If you have any queries regarding the above, then please contact Zishaan Saleem.

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