Upcoming Events :
Housing seminar: Getting the most out of your community energy scheme: an introduction
Wed 19 Jun 2013
Minerva House, 5 Montague Close, London, SE1 9BB
Cameron considers cutting housing benefits for under-25s
Tue 26 Jun 2012
David Cameron has suggested a Conservative-only government could scrap housing benefits for people aged 25 or under.
According to the prime minister, this demographic currently receives nearly £2 billion a year in housing support. Indeed, he said 210,000 16 to 24-year-olds currently live in social housing.
However, Mr Cameron is concerned that many of those claiming benefits are not actively seeking work.
This, he said, is occurring at a time when many young adults who are working are being forced to continue living with their parents because they cannot afford a place of their own.
Mr Cameron acknowledged that many of the young people on housing benefits "will genuinely have nowhere else to live", but said this is not the case for some.
As a result, he is keen to reform the welfare system so people have to earn independence during early adulthood rather than "grab" it from the state.
The proposal is unlikely to be introduced during the current parliament, as it would probably be opposed by the Liberal Democrat side of the coalition. This suggests it could form part of the Conservative Party's next general election campaign in 2015.
Mr Cameron's comments have received a mixed reception, with housing charity Shelter describing a possible cut in housing benefits as "outrageous".
Campbell Robb, chief executive of the group, said it is likely the move could lead to increased homelessness, as many of those who are struggling to find work might end up with "nowhere else to go".
Mr Robb also argued that young adults who have gone through a family breakdown may also lose out.
The prime minister initially floated the idea during an interview with the Mail on Sunday at the weekend, in which he said the amount that goes to under-25s in housing benefit is "a fortune".
For further information on any of the points raised in this article please contact Andrew Murray or Keith Jenkins in our Social Housing Team.
Related People
