Wednesday 18 June 2025,
09.30am
MPs on the Work and Pensions Committee will hold a one-off
session to probe a shortfall of £737.3 million across 5-years in
DWP refunds to hard-up local authorities in temporary housing
costs reported by Local Government Association research.
Councils have to put people in temporary accommodation as part of
their duty to reduce homelessness, the costs for which should
then be reimbursed by the Department for Work and Pensions at a
rate linked to local rental costs. But while the DWP pays
individuals a rate linked to 30% of 2024 private rental levels
(Local Housing Allowance), the cash handed to struggling local
authorities is pegged to 2011 rates. According to ONS data, between 2015
and 2024 rents in the private sector jumped by almost a
quarter.
Witnesses, which include the Local Government Association,
National Residential Landlord Association and charities will also
be asked about the impact of insufficient support to individuals
to cover housing costs and on the supply of social housing.
The session comes after the Committee heard that housing policy
is putting pressure on those in poverty, particularly for those
who are renting privately, as part of its Pensioner Poverty
inquiry.
Confirmed witnesses,
Panel 1 from 09.30:
- Alistair Smyth, Director of Policy and Research, National
Residential Landlord Association;
- TBC, Local Government Association;
- Ben Beadle, Chief Executive, National Residential Landlords
Association.
Panel 2 from 10.15:
- Hannah Aldridge, Senior Policy officer, Child Poverty Action
Group;
- Hilary Burkitt, Housing Policy Manager, Independent
Age;
- Ben Twomey, Chief Executive, Generation Rent;
- Charlie Trew, Head of Policy, Shelter.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- The Local Government
Association revealed that the 5-year cost of non-refunded
temporary accommodation spending was “more than £737.3
million”.
