Charity calls for action to support older private renters as LHA rates remain frozen

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Charity calls for action to support older private renters as LHA rates remain frozen

A charity is urging the government to unfreeze Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates after research reveals an increase in pensioners living in poverty.

New data by the government reveals the number of pensioners living in poverty in the UK increased by 200,000 in just one year.

Independent Age says the government should do more to help older private renters.

Older private renters not forced into dangerous sacrifices

During the Autumn Budget, ministers announced that LHA rates will remain frozen for a second consecutive year in 2026/27.

According to government data, almost 1.7 million private rented households across the country were receiving housing cost support as of August this year, with 53% of those households facing a gap between their housing benefit payments and their monthly rent.

Independent Age director of policy and influencing, Morgan Vine, said: “We want to see Local Housing Allowance uprated, to ensure older private renters are not forced into dangerous sacrifices simply to keep a roof over their head.

“And the delivery of a comprehensive, all entitlement take-up strategy which can overcome the barriers that prevent people in later life from accessing the vital financial support they are entitled to. With the political will, a future without pensioner poverty is possible.”

One-way street to hitting low-income tenants

As previously reported on Property118, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) Ben Beadle warned the current freeze on LHA rates, combined with a 2-percentage-point increase in taxes on dividends, property, and savings income in the Autumn Budget, will ultimately harm renters.

He said: “It beggars belief that the government thinks it is helping renters.

“Piling on further tax rises that will drive up rents, whilst keeping housing benefit rates frozen, is a one-way street to hitting low-income tenants the hardest.

“This can only be described as a deeply regressive package that will make life more difficult for renters across the country.”

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