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An extra £​5.9m of Government funding has been allocated to councils across London to help benefit claimants renting in the private sector.

The funds are part of a £​49m package that will be allocated to British councils to help with the transition to new Housing Benefit rules until 2015. This is on top of the £​130m Discretionary Housing Payments and the £​10m for homelessness prevention in London.

The funds will help residents and councils to renegotiate their rents with landlords and find more affordable properties.
Minister for Welfare Reform Lord Freud said:
“​The cost of paying Housing Benefit in the private rented sector has nearly doubled in a decade, so it'​s only right that we introduce new reforms to get these spiralling costs under control. The additional £​5.9m funding for London will help councils to prepare and assist residents make the transition.
“​We are already seeing councils pulling together to create innovative projects to target support for tenants and work with landlords to renegotiate rents or find affordable properties.

“​We look forward to councils continuing to work together and with local groups to make the very best use of these new resources.”​

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