Mortgages: Housing Benefit
Communities and Local Government
Caroline Lucas (Brighton, Pavilion, Green)
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will hold discussions with buy to let lenders to urge them to (a) remove any restrictions on housing benefit tenants and (b) change restrictions on lengths of tenancy to encourage longer tenancies; and if he will make a statement.
Andrew Stunell (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Communities and Local Government; Hazel Grove, Liberal Democrat)
While we are aware that some buy to let mortgage lenders prohibit the letting of properties to housing benefit claimants and restrict the lengths of tenancies, these are commercial decisions with which the Government would not seek to intervene.
We believe that the private rented sector is doing a good job in housing people on benefits, and currently estimate that around 30% of households in the sector are in receipt of housing benefit. We are working to ensure that the private rented sector continues to thrive and to offer affordability and choice to those seeking a home.