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Housing Benefit: Rented Housing

Asked by Martin WrigleyLiberal DemocratDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled Answered 24 June 2025UIN 60302

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of Housing Benefit recipients live in (a) private rented accommodation and (b) social housing.

Answered by Sir Stephen Timms

In 2023/24 financial year, 490,000 Housing Benefit claimants lived in private-rented accommodation. This accounted for 21% of all housing benefit claimants.

In 2023/24 financial year, 1.9 million Housing Benefit claimants lived in social housing. This accounted for 79% of all housing benefit claimants.

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