The British Property Federation has criticised the government’s policy on housing benefit

It argues that while cuts to housing benefits come into effect, resulting in a likely rise in demand for houses of multiple occupation (HMOs), article 4 directions prohibiting the construction of HMOs are ‘popping up left, right and centre’

The BPF says that planned changes to the Shared Accommodation Rate could see an estimated 88,000 25-to-34-year-olds dropped from a benefit rate designed to cover the cost of a one bedroom flat, to a rate that will only cover shared accommodation

Yet research shows local authorities up-and-down the country using article 4 directions to stop the construction of HMOs, which are already in short supply and likely to come under increased pressure as thousands of 25-to-34-year-olds search for somewhere to live after the housing benefit cuts come into effect

Ian Fletcher, director of policy at the British Property Federation, said: “The government’s policy on housing for young people is wholly contradictory at present