My View: Supporting Older Renters

Thank you for to everyone who contacted me about the challenges faced by older renters.

I know how important it is that everyone has access to a safe, secure, and affordable place to live, and helping low-income pensioners is a top priority.

The last Labour Government halved pensioner poverty from its mid-1990s peak, and I am determined to build on that legacy. Everyone in society deserves a comfortable and dignified retirement, which is why I support maintaining the triple lock policy.

This means that the State Pension will continue to increase each year by the highest of inflation, average wage growth or 2.5%. I welcome that, thanks to the triple lock, the State Pension is increasing by 4.8% this year. By the end of this Parliament, annual spending on the State Pension is forecast to be over £30 billion higher than in 2024/25.

You specifically mentioned concerns about Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates. Our Government has taken the difficult decision to keep LHA rates at the same level in 2026/27. This was based on a range of factors, such as rental levels and impacts across Great Britain, the wider fiscal context and social security priorities. Ministers have been clear that they will keep LHA under review, and I will monitor any developments with interest.

I note that renters in England facing a shortfall in meeting their housing costs can apply for discretionary support through Crisis and Resilience Fund Housing Payments from local authorities. I welcome that the 2025 Spending Review provided the first ever multi-year settlement for crisis support; to give local authorities the security they need to continue to provide this vital assistance over the long term.

In my view, we must create a more diverse housing market, one that delivers homes quickly and responds to the needs of a range of communities. That is why the announcement of a £39 billion investment in the new Social and Affordable Homes Programme is so essential. This represents the biggest long-term investment in social and affordable housing in recent memory and will help to deliver approximately 300,000 social and affordable homes by 2036. It is a major step forward in increasing the supply of genuinely affordable housing, including for older people.

Thank you again for getting in touch with me, and as always, do email me directly if you have any other questions.