Download the presentation slides here

A new report, launched at this event, analyses the choice over the level of rent charged to tenants in social housing, who account for about one sixth of the population. The report includes estimates of some of the impacts of recent and imminent changes to social rent policy. It also shows how these impacts are affected by recent and imminent welfare reforms. It addresses questions such as:

  • What are the consequences of changing social rent levels for tenants, social housing providers and central government finances?
  • What are the impacts on tenants’ disposable incomes and work incentives of the July 2015 Budget announcements to reduce social rents by 1% per year for 4 years and to introduce a mandatory ‘Pay to Stay’ policy for higher-income tenants?
  • How are the impacts of changing social rents affected by the family benefit cap and the introduction of universal credit?

This work is funded by Trust for London.