Studies allay fears on new allowance

An allowance being piloted as a replacement for housing benefit has not caused greater arrears among tenants or increased homelessness, as some campaigners feared, according to government research.

Department for Work and Pensions studies on the local housing allowance found the practice of publishing allowance rates had not pushed up rents.

The allowance is paid directly to tenants and is based on the average cost of housing in an area.

Meanwhile, a coalition of agencies, including Citizens Advice and Shelter, has called on the government to scrap housing benefit restrictions for under-25s.

● Local housing allowance reports