Letting to LHA tenants is 'unaffordable'

The National Landlords Association has published survey results stating that more than half of private landlords can no longer 'afford' to rent to housing benefit tenants because of cuts to the local housing allowance (LHA).

The survey showed 53 per cent of landlords believe LHA cuts have made it unaffordable to rent to tenants on benefits.

Over two thirds of its survey respondents said they can’t see themselves letting to LHA tenants in 2015.

David Salusbury, Chairman, National Landlords Association, commented:

"In view of the pressures on housing, the private-rented sector will inevitably play an increasingly important role in providing housing to LHA tenants, particularly those aged under 35, who aren’t able to access other housing."

But only a quarter of landlords said that their local authority had contacted and actively negotiated with them to reduce rent for poorer tenants in return for direct payment of LHA.