Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans his Department has to introduce a tenant hardship loan fund.

The UK Government has provided an unprecedented package of financial support which is available to tenants, and we will continue to monitor closely the impacts of Covid19 for renters.

Notably, we have increased the local housing allowance rate to the 30th percentile. This increase will mean nearly £1bn of additional support for private renters claiming Universal Credit or Housing Benefit in 2020/21 and benefits over 1 million households, including those in work.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has offered support for business to pay staff salaries, enabling people to continue to pay their rent.

For those who require additional support, Discretionary Housing Payments are available. As announced at the spending round for 2020/21, there is already £180m in Discretionary Housing Payments for Local Authorities to distribute for supporting renters with housing costs in the private and social rented sectors.