Families 'will be priced out of social housing by plans for higher rents' | Society | The Observer

Families 'will be priced out of social housing by plans for higher rents' | Society | The Observer

Larger families claiming benefits, many with members in work, will be unable to afford increased rents on social housing across swaths of urban England, according to research. Rents will rise to as much as 80% of those in the private sector.

The government wants the cash to be used to build affordable homes, to make up for a significant reduction in grants. But with private sector rents in England having risen to 58% of the gross weekly wage of the lowest paid, and to 72% in the case of London, there are fears many on benefits will be unable to afford the impending increases.

It has been feared that the move would hit families with three or more children living in London. ....