Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact on levels of homelessness of unfreezing local housing allowance.

The Government recognises that homelessness levels are too high and there are a range of contributing factors. We will look carefully at these issues as we develop our strategy for ending homelessness.

Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates have not been frozen for the current year, but were restored to the 30th percentile of local market rents from April 2024 for one year. Any decisions on LHA in 25/26 need to be taken in the context of the Government’s missions, housing priorities, and the fiscal context.

For those who need further support, Discretionary Housing Payments are available from local authorities.