Scottish AffairsWritten evidence submitted by Glasgow City Council

DETAILS FOR THE SCOTTISH AFFAIRS SELECT COMMITTEE AS REQUESTED ON 9/10/2013

Q513

The maximum levels of Housing Benefit payable for rent in the private sector are referred to as the Local Housing Allowance. The maximum is set at the 30th percentile of rents within Broad Rental Market Areas for houses of up to four bedrooms. The number of required bedrooms that a household requires is calculated in the same way that has now been introduced in social sector. The permitted levels in the private sector are greater than permitted in the social sector. A one bedroom property in the private sector would be allowed housing benefit of up to £91.15 per week which is greater than the average rents for up to four bedroom properties in both Glasgow Housing Association (table 2) and Maryhill Housing Association (table 3).

Table 1

LOCAL HOUSING ALLOWANCE 30TH PERCENTILE IN GREATER GLASGOW AREA APRIL 2013–14

No of Bedrooms	30th Percentile
1 bedroom in shared accommodation	£65.00
1 bedroom	£91.15
2 bedrooms	£115.38
3 bedrooms	£137.31
4 or more bedrooms	£196.15

Table 2

GLASGOW HOUSING ASSOCIATION AVERAGE WEEKLY RENTS BY APARTMENT SIZE

No of apartments	Average Rent	No of Units
1 apt (combined living room/bedroom)	£52.17	2,790
2apt. (1 bedroom)	£62.62	7,351
3apt. (2 bedroom)	£68.08	20,555
4apt. (3 bedroom)	£79.86	8,091
5apt. (4 bedroom)	£87.68	1,281

Table 3

MARYHILL HOUSING ASSOCIATION AVERAGE WEEKLY RENTS BY APARTMENT SIZE

No of apartments	Average Rent	No of Units
1 apt (combined living room/bedroom)	£48.67	131
2apt. (1 bedroom)	£61.39	931
3apt. (2 bedroom)	£65.09	1370
4apt. (3 bedroom)	£74.34	340
5apt. (4 bedroom)	£90.52	33

Q584

Copy of Glasgow City Council Discretionary Housing Payments Policy (attached).1

November 2013