Brief
Housing benefit gap forces renters to choose between rent, food and heat
The gap between Local Housing Allowance and private rents is pushing low‑income households into severe hardship, with estimates that relinking LHA could help 105,000 people by 2028‑29.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Laura Braddock, a 39‑year‑old single mother in Wirral, Merseyside, pays £550 a month for a two‑bedroom flat but receives only £425 in Local Housing Allowance (LHA), leaving a £125 rent gap that forces her to cut food and heating, the Guardian reported.
Trussell Trust data cited in the article says 62% of private renters on housing support have gone without food or heating in the past six months because they cannot afford them. The Resolution Foundation estimates the average shortfall for low‑income households renting a two‑bedroom home is £158 a month, rising to as much as £324 in parts of London.
The think‑tank proposes relinking LHA to the cheapest 30% of local rents, a move it says could lift 105,000 people out of severe hardship by 2028‑29 at a cost of £2 billion a year.
Key facts
- Laura Braddock pays £550 rent but receives £425 LHA, creating a £125 shortfall. (theguardian.com)
- 62% of private renters on housing support have missed food or heating in the past six months. (theguardian.com)
- Average rent‑LHA gap is £158 a month nationally, up to £324 in London. (theguardian.com)
- Relinking LHA could help 105,000 people by 2028‑29, costing £2 bn per year. (theguardian.com)
Sources
- [1] theguardian.com — originally reported as “Pay rent, eat or keep warm? Growing numbers face hard choices as housing benefit gap grows”
