Will Quince corrected a written answer on Rents: Coronavirus

15 April 2020 · Commons written answer · Department for Work and Pensions

Richard Fuller (Conservative, North East Bedfordshire) asked written question 30723 on 17 March 2020. Will Quince answered on 25 March 2020 for the Department for Work and Pensions, and Will Quince corrected the answer on 15 April 2020. The corrected text adds the figure £600, which the original did not give. Altogether 279 words differ between the two versions.

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she plans to take through the benefits system to support tenants to meet their rent payments during the covid-19 outbreak.

Original and corrected answer

Struck through: original only. Bold: correction only.

Original	Corrected
Support for rented housing costs are available through Universal Credit and Housing Benefit. Discretionary Housing Payments are also available, these payments are very flexible and can be considered where, in the local authority's opinion, further financial assistance towards housing costs is required. Last week, the Chancellor announced, in response to COVID-19, that for 2020/21, we will increase the Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit claimants so that they ~~are set at~~ the ~~30th percentile of market rents.~~ As both the ~~Prime Minister~~ and ~~Chancellor have made clear,~~ the ~~Government will do whatever~~ it ~~takes~~ to ~~support people affected by COVID 19 and we have been clear in our intention that no one should~~ be ~~penalised for doing the right thing. These are rapidly developing circumstances, we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.~~	We have increased the Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit claimants so that it covers the cheapest third of local rents – which is on average £600 in people’s pockets. The government has brought forward a package of measures to protect renters affected by coronavirus. With these in force, no renter in either social or private accommodation will be forced out of their home. From 26 March, landlords have had to give all renters 3 months’ notice if they intend to seek possession (i.e. serve notice that they want to end the tenancy) – this means the landlord can’t apply to start the court process until after this period. This extended buffer period will apply in law until 30 September 2020 and both the end point, and the 3 month notice period can be extended if needed. From 27 March, the court service has suspended all ongoing housing possession action – this means that neither cases currently in the system or any about to go in to it can progress to the stage where someone could be evicted.

Original

Corrected

Support for rented housing costs are available through Universal Credit and Housing Benefit. Discretionary Housing Payments are also available, these payments are very flexible and can be considered where, in the local authority's opinion, further financial assistance towards housing costs is required.
Last week, the Chancellor announced, in response to COVID-19, that for 2020/21, we will increase the Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit claimants so that they ~~are set at~~ the ~~30th percentile of market rents.~~
As both the ~~Prime Minister~~ and ~~Chancellor have made clear,~~ the ~~Government will do whatever~~ it ~~takes~~ to ~~support people affected by COVID 19 and we have been clear in our intention that no one should~~ be ~~penalised for doing the right thing. These are rapidly developing circumstances, we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.~~

We have increased the Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit claimants so that it covers the cheapest third of local rents – which is on average £600 in people’s pockets.
The government has brought forward a package of measures to protect renters affected by coronavirus. With these in force, no renter in either social or private accommodation will be forced out of their home.
From 26 March, landlords have had to give all renters 3 months’ notice if they intend to seek possession (i.e. serve notice that they want to end the tenancy) – this means the landlord can’t apply to start the court process until after this period.
This extended buffer period will apply in law until 30 September 2020 and both the end point, and the 3 month notice period can be extended if needed.
From 27 March, the court service has suspended all ongoing housing possession action – this means that neither cases currently in the system or any about to go in to it can progress to the stage where someone could be evicted.

The question and answer on the Parliament website.

Receipt

Read from	https://questions-statements-api.parliament.uk/api/writtenquestions/questions/1185686?expandMember=true
Date read	15 October 2026
SHA-256	`bb21be9f03f94fa975ae823b391f19001deb47cc4283fd0d0e2680ab8750d555`