NHC Chief Executive response to Autumn statement

NHC Chief Executive Tracy Harrison responding to the Autumn Statement:

The NHC welcomes the Chancellor’s decision to uprate benefits in-line with rising prices – this will help people through the crisis.  However, we are very concerned that he intends to freeze local housing allowance in cash terms. Our Northern Housing Monitor shows that the proportion of private rentals in the North advertised at rents above the relevant LHA has grown from three-quarters of ads in 2017 to more than four out of five in 2019, to a position where almost nine out of 10 properties advertised for rent are too expensive for someone reliant on LHA. This position is unsustainable and will drive homelessness.

We have always argued that the long-term solution to the energy crisis is energy efficiency. We therefore welcome the further £6bn investment in energy efficiency from 2025; and we look forward to working with BEIS to ensure that homes across the North benefit from this. It will be important that more detail comes forward soon so that the supply chain has visibility of long-term demand.

The government’s 7% rent cap for social housing provides certainty, and will help councils and housing associations to balance affordability for tenants as well as continuing their important work to tackle fuel poverty through green home upgrades and provide important services to tenants.