Community Housing Cymru and the Welsh Local Government Association have commissioned CCHPR to undertake a study into viable housing models for single people only entitled to the housing benefit shared accommodation rate.
The study aimed to establish what Local Authorities and Housing Associations in Wales could do to increase the economically viable provision of affordable accommodation for single people under 35 in the social housing sector.
With changes in legislation, local authorities in Wales have duties to all households who are homeless or threatened with homelessness, regardless of their ‘priority need’. Since the introduction of the legislation the lack of accommodation for single people approaching housing options services has become even more evident. With further changes to legislation set to make finding and maintaining appropriate tenancies even harder for this group, Community Housing Cymru and the Welsh Local Government Association were keen to understand how they could meet their needs in future.
Feasibility study of the prospect of developing a viable housing model for those entitled only to access the shared accommodation rate
This research was commissioned by Community Housing Cymru and the Welsh Local Government Association in order to establish what Local Authorities and Housing Associations in Wales can do to increase the economically viable provision of affordable accommodation for young single people under 35 in the social housing sector in the light of forthcoming housing benefit cuts.
Forthcoming cuts to Housing Benefit will reduce payments to social tenants if their rent is currently higher than the amount of Housing Benefit they would receive in the private rented sector. For single people under 35 this means that their housing benefit will be capped at the level deemed necessary to rent a room in a shared house, which may be significantly lower than rents on one bedroom social rented flats. In addition, some 18-21 year olds will lose all entitlement to Housing Benefit.
The research drew on a survey of young people in Wales, focus groups, interviews with key stakeholders and landlords and analysis of data on current living patterns.