‘We won’t reduce the rent … We’ll kick them out’: Research Reveals Landlord’s Response to Housing Benefit Reform

A report published by the DWP gives a glimpse of the horrific future hundreds of thousands of people are set to face due to housing benefit reforms. 

Predictably the most telling comments come from landlords. According to the report, 16% of landlords who currently let to claimants plan to stop doing so due to the cuts.

Most landlords seem well aware of what is to come and are already making plans: “I’m giving notice on [20 tenants affected by the change to the Shared Accommodation Rate], it’s not fair, I don’t like doing it. And we’re not taking any [more] on. 

We have to protect ourselves and we have to protect our landlords.”

Almost all landlords quoted say they are planning to evict claimants under 35, with some going even further and suggesting they will now not rent to anyone from this age group: “We’re not housing under 35s now, so long term it will resolve itself because we’re not putting anyone in under 35. 

But we’ve got this 15, 20 people who are going to be on the street.”

 If this report makes grim reading (and it does) for all those concerned about the future of housing for people on low incomes, then it is only a small taste of what is to come.