Buckinghamshire is facing a crippling housing crisis
Private renters are increasingly reported to struggle with a growing housing crisis.
A report released by Citizens Advice Bucks' Research and Campaigns taskforce reveals an 'undeniable' housing crisis across the county.
Between frozen Local Housing Allowance rates and the current financial pressures caused by the cost-of-living crisis, the report highlights a rising number of renters found unable to pay their bills.
Craig Glynn, Interim CEO at Citizens Advice Bucks, said: "People do not have enough money to afford their rent, and so they have to top up with other money that's coming in."
"So for example, a disabled person has to spend their disability benefit which is designed to help them get around, they have to then spend that on their rent."
What Mr Glynn told Greatest Hits Radio was that the demographic of people requiring help is changing, with families who used to live decently are now facing huge challenges.
He said: "People who are in work will have to spend money on their rent rather than on food for them or their children, and then they come to charities for food vouchers."
"In those kinds of dynamics people fail to pay utility bills, rent, and then they risk homelessness."
What is the LHA?
The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate is calculated based on the area you live in and the number of bedrooms you are eligible for.
Like other benefits, the LHA undergoes a means test which determines how much Housing Benefit or Housing Element (within Universal Credit) can be claimed for private rented accommodation.
It was however reduced in 2011, and frozen in 2020, creating a growing housing crisis where private renters are finding it difficult to pay rent, and not enough social housing is being made available.
Mr Glynn said: "People who are on a low income who are living in private rented properties simply cannot afford to do so."
"It's not news to us, it's not even news to the council who I'm sure are working very hard on this, that there's not enough new stock coming in in any way affordable."
The report makes three clear recommendations to overcome the crisis:
The first one being to unfreeze LHA rates and match them at least with the 30th percentile of rent levels.
The second one is to increase the number of properties available on social rent.
And the third one is to consider implementing measures to cover the difference in rent should landlords unexpectedly increase rent on existing tenants.
For more information, advice or support from the charity Citizens Advice Bucks, you can visit their website here.