City families face new rental crisis (From Oxford Mail)

City families face new rental crisis (From Oxford Mail)

A HOUSING crisis is looming in Oxford because benefit cuts will mean people can no long afford their rented homes, experts fear.

Oxford City Council says it is already struggling to cope with new caps on the Local Housing Allowance (LHA), which is paid to 12,670 people on benefits or low incomes to help pay their rent to private landlords.

Since April, LHA rates for new claimants have been based on the lowest 30 per cent of local rents, instead of the average rent.

From January, the new rates will start applying to people already receiving housing benefits.