The Resolution Foundation warns that more than 1.1 million low-income families renting homes face a “cost of housing” crunch unless the chancellor ends the freeze on local housing allowance (LHA) before next month’s Budget. The thinktank says the gap between rising local rents and what people can claim is set to reach a record high this autumn.
The Mirror and The Guardian report that LHA has been frozen in cash terms since autumn 2024. The Guardian adds that for a typical two-bedroom household, the shortfall could be about £158 per week due to rent increases. Both outlets cite the same core concern: the benefit support does not keep pace with rental costs, leaving households more exposed to affordability pressures.
While the coverage aligns on the scale of the problem and the freeze’s impact, the outlets differ mainly in emphasis—The Mirror focuses on the chancellor being urged to end the freeze, while The Guardian highlights the projected weekly shortfall for an average household. Both frame the issue as urgent ahead of the Budget.
