Tenants who are receiving universal credit and are in rent arrears are up to five times the number of those on the old benefits system.
Thousands of people are struggling to pay their rent and more than 2,500 tenants in Hounslow, Croydon and Southwark are at risk of eviction and homelessness, according to figures collected by the Observer.
Freedom of Information Act requests revealed half of all council tenants across 105 local authorities who receive the housing element of universal credit – which replaces housing benefit – are at least a month behind on their rent, with 30% two months behind.
Some food banks reported that marriages had broken down as a result of the extra pressures of waiting for payments, while some landlords are now choosing not to accept tenants on universal credit.
Share your experiences
How has being on universal credit affected your ability to pay rent? Have you experienced any delay in receiving your payments? Have you encountered landlords unwilling to not accept tenants on universal credit? Do you think it is better or worse than the benefits it replaces?
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