CIH responds to DLUHC support package for renters

On Saturday 23 October 2021, the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) shared details of a £65 million support package for rent arrears. 

The funding will be given to councils in England to support low-income earners in rent arrears – helping to prevent homelessness and support families get back on their feet.

Alexandra Gibson, policy and practice officer at the Chartered Institute of Housing said: 

"There has been a significant build-up of rent arrears among low-income households over the last 17 months, further highlighting the unequal nature of the pandemic. We are pleased that the government has recognised and responded to our calls to address this problem. The £65m support package for private renters is a significant step forward in helping to alleviate the risk of eviction and homelessness for those most in need.

However, with rising rents and the recent cut to Universal Credit, we are conscious that the £65m may fall short in preventing many families from reaching crisis point. Recent figures suggest that the package only covers 15 per cent of what is needed to truly target the full scale of the rent debt crisis. While this support is welcome to help struggling families this winter, we urge the chancellor to go further in our Autumn Cliff Edge call to government."