Lower rent hope for York tenants

9:50am Tuesday 6th January 2009

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PRIVATE tenants in York who receive housing benefit could get more support with their rent, after the city’s MP took up their case with the Government.

Residents in the city have been losing out as rents in other towns, such as Malton, Selby and Easingwold, were taken into account when deciding their benefit.

Because those towns have lower rents, York tenants receive less benefit than they otherwise would.

Mr Bayley took the matter up with Work and Pensions minister James Plaskett, and his successor Kitty Ussher has now promised to review the rules from this month.

The Labour MP said: “I am pleased to learn that the review of the local reference rent will start in January.

“When I met with the minister he agreed that York residents were badly hit when the Rent Service changed the way the local reference rent is calculated and I have been waiting to hear when the review is to start.

“It is not reasonable to expect people in York to move to Malton or Easingwold, especially if they work in York or are looking for a job, or if they care for elderly parents or other relatives in the city.

“I told the minister that the Government wouldn’t expect Londoners to move more than ten or 20 miles away to a cheaper town if they need to claim housing benefit, and it is wrong to expect this of York residents.

“In any case, if hundreds of private tenants tried to move to North Yorkshire towns rents in those places would rise even if they could find somewhere to live.

“The Rent Service should set a local reference rent for York based on rents in York, not other places.” Mr Bayley said he asked for the review following a number of complaints from York residents.

He said the rules meant 40 per cent of York’s 1,400 private tenants who receive housing benefit found their entitlement cut.

He said he had written to City of York Council, the Rent Service and then to the minister, but nothing changed.

After meeting with Mr Plaskett, the Minister agreed that York residents had been badly hit and said he would look at the problem.

Ms Ussher confirmed in a letter to Mr Bayley that a review would be carried out.