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21/07/2022
Alliance Calls For Urgent Action On Rent Disparities
The Alliance Party has called for urgent action to address the disparity between rent and housing benefit allowance.
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong has expressed shock after writing to the Minister for Communities to find the disparity between rent and housing benefit allowance is upwards of £100.
The MLA said: "The reduction in the number of private rentals means those remaining are able to increase the amount they're charging tenants. This is having a major impact on tenants who are already struggling with the soaring cost of living," she said.
"After writing to the Minister For Communities, it has become clear that this is having a huge knock-on effect on those in receipt of the housing benefit award. We're seeing disparities between rent and housing benefit upwards of £100.
"This is completely unacceptable and we need to take action fast, before this problem continues to spiral further out of control.
"People are being pushed deeper into poverty, as they're being forced to use money that they'd otherwise spend on food or to heat their home, just to keep a roof over their head."
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong has expressed shock after writing to the Minister for Communities to find the disparity between rent and housing benefit allowance is upwards of £100.
The MLA said: "The reduction in the number of private rentals means those remaining are able to increase the amount they're charging tenants. This is having a major impact on tenants who are already struggling with the soaring cost of living," she said.
"After writing to the Minister For Communities, it has become clear that this is having a huge knock-on effect on those in receipt of the housing benefit award. We're seeing disparities between rent and housing benefit upwards of £100.
"This is completely unacceptable and we need to take action fast, before this problem continues to spiral further out of control.
"People are being pushed deeper into poverty, as they're being forced to use money that they'd otherwise spend on food or to heat their home, just to keep a roof over their head."
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:A largely dry evening and night. It will be mostly cloudy, but a few clear spells are possible in the east during the evening. Some patchy rain across the west shortly before dawn. Minimum temperature 5 °C.
