Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 9 April 2019 to Question 240482 on Universal Credit: Private Rented Housing, what meaningful changes have taken place.

The Government has begun the process of engaging with the sector to tackle the problems faced by people renting in the private rented sector. We have seen positive changes from property sites who have committed to removing adverts with ‘No DSS’ wording and from lenders who have committed to removing mortgage restrictions that would prevent landlords from renting to tenants in receipt of housing support. This work is ongoing and we will continue to bring the sector together to tackle such practices.

Furthermore, as stated by the Secretary of State on 11 January 2019, the Department has also committed to increasing the support available to private landlords. An on-line system for private landlords will be introduced so they can request, where necessary, that their tenants’ rent is paid directly to them.