The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has launched its second briefing document on how the cost-of-living crisis is impacting social housing tenants.
Highlights of the briefing include:
- UK inflation hit a new 40-year high of 9.4% in June and housing and energy costs have increased by 19.6% since June 2021
- One in six households are now estimated to be in “serious financial difficulties”
- Inflation is highest in the UK’s poorest cities, with a clear north-south divide and
- Single female and BAME households are experiencing 50% higher costs than their male and white counterparts (respectively) as a portion of their income.
The CIH is calling on the government to:
- Provide enough help with housing costs and restore the £20 uplift for Universal Credit claimants
- Bring forward investment on net zero with long-term plans to tackle poor energy efficient homes
- Invest in a long-term strategy to end homelessness, provide good quality temporary accommodation, and invest in supported housing and
- Increase grant levels to provide homes at the social rents needed each year.
The third briefing in the series, which will be published in September, will look at how changes in benefits have reduced the help available and what further government support is needed.