The new LHA rule for under 35's that only allows them to claim the rate for one room

Oldernotwiser

Jowo wrote: »

The house shares exist already. They are populated by people on low incomes who have been priced out of self-contained accommodation by the way that the generous LHA allowances skewed the market prices.

The working poor are already used to living in lodgings and flat-shares to reduce their living costs without the cushion of housing benefit and council tax rebates.

Successful graduates who secure relatively decent paying new jobs in a major city will invariably not be in the position to swan off to a letting agent and get a 1 bedroom flat to themselves. Graduates are used to sharing properties until they get promotion or move in with a partner to share the costs. So if graduates routinely flat-share, why can't the unemployed?

They look over their shoulder and wonder how it is that they have to share a bathroom with strangers while they work in even relatively well renumerated employment whereas if they were x age and workless, they could have the govt pay for their own self contained accommodation.

I couldn't agree more.

The only youngish people I've known to rent a whole flat to themselves are those claiming benefits - in general, workers share.

Sixer

I houseshared for about 8 years after graduating and before getting married, always with several other friends/colleagues and the odd boyfriend along the way, so the sharing of kitchens and bathrooms was never an issue. I always earned a good whack, but could never have afforded even the grottiest London bedsit by myself. Even then, I worked in the centre and lived in the outer. And it would have been lonely!

I think the issue with the unemployed is the isolation and the concerns of landlords: actually finding a group of three or four people all willing to share and a landlord to take them on may prove problematic.

And I wouldn't wish one of those awful houses with filthy kitchens and bathrooms and 5 bedrooms (2 downstairs and 3 upstairs with no living area) with lockable doors on anyone.

Oldernotwiser

Sixer wrote: »

I think the issue with the unemployed is the isolation and the concerns of landlords: actually finding a group of three or four people all willing to share and a landlord to take them on may prove problematic.

Of course, the unemployed don't have to share with other unemployed people and difficulty with LLs will be similar for shared and self contained accommodation.

I shared (mainly in London) until I met my (ex) husband when I was 30 and most of the places I lived in were really comfortable and in nice areas.