Brighton and Hove Benefits News and Resources
https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications/saving-private-renters/ Local Housing Allowance (LHA), which caps how much support is provided through the social security system to low-income private renters, was last relinked to the 30th percentile of rents in April 2024, and has been frozen in cash terms ever since. But private rents have risen considerably since then. [1] A low-income family renting…
https://www.local.gov.uk/about/news/expenditure-temporary-accommodation-increased-tenfold-between-2011-24-lga-launches New analysis from the Local Government Association (LGA) has found that council expenditure on temporary accommodation (TA) increased by a massive 1077 per cent in real terms between 2011/12 and 2024/25. This equates to councils spending £6 billion (1) across this 13-year period. Of this, £2.2 billion, over one third (37 per cent) was…
https://www.crisis.org.uk/about-us/crisis-media-centre/fewer-than-2-of-properties-in-britain-considered-affordable-for-renters-on-housing-benefit-1 New research from a coalition of organisations led by Crisis and Citizens Advice has revealed the extent of Britain’s cost of living crisis, with fewer than two in 100 private rental properties listed in Britain (1.9%) now affordable for people on housing benefit, according to data from Zoopla. This is pushing low-income households into…
The national story tells a different picture – Average UK monthly private rent inflation continued to slow, increasing by 3.3%, to £1,383, in the 12 months to May 2026 (provisional estimate); this annual growth rate is down from 3.5% in the 12 months to April 2026. Average rents increased to £1,442 (3.4%) in England, £836…
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/renters-rights-act-overview-for-tenants The Renters’ Rights Act changes how landlords let out private properties on or from 1 May 2026. This overview of the main changes is for tenants. Separate guidance is available for landlords. The changes apply to privately rented properties. Different rules apply if you: rent from a housing association or local councillive in student…
https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/bulletins/privaterentandhousepricesuk/april2026
https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/bulletins/privaterentandhousepricesuk/march2026 Private rent and house prices, UK: March 2026The Price Index of Private Rents (PIPR) measures private rent inflation for new and existing tenancies. The UK House Price Index (HPI) measures house price inflation.
This year’s Universal Credit uplift means that the basic rate of unemployment benefits will go up by more than inflation for the first time since 1983. But the real-terms value of unemployment benefit is still 5% lower than in 2010-11. By contrast, State Pension rose by 20% over the same period.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/landlords-now-to-fulfil-new-legal-duty-for-renters-rights-act Millions of tenants across England will receive new vital information on the biggest changes to renting in history on 1 May 2026 Government has published a new official document explaining tenancy changes, which landlords and agents must give legally to their tenants by 31 May 2026 11 million renters are just 6 weeks away…
https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/bulletins/privaterentandhousepricesuk/february2026 Average UK monthly private rents increased by 3.5%, to £1,367, in the 12 months to January 2026 (provisional estimate); this annual growth rate is down from 4.0% in the 12 months to December 2025. Average rents increased to £1,423 (3.5%) in England, £826 (5.8%) in Wales, and £1,021 (2.6%) in Scotland, in the 12…