Over half of private tenants relying on Universal Credit to pay their rent have a shortfall between the amount they receive and what they pay for their housing.

Official data suggests that 56% of private renters relying on Universal Credit have an average gap of £100 a month between the amount they receive in housing cost support and the rents they pay, reports the National Association of Residential Landlords (NRLA).

Almost 60% of renters with two children relying on Universal Credit to help pay their rent have a shortfall between their rent and the benefits they receive.

Regionally, the proportion of tenants affected ranged from just over 40% in London (although based on a much higher number of claimants) to over 68% in Wales.

New data this week suggests also that over half (53%) of adults who rent their home reported that they could not afford an unexpected expense.

The NRLA is calling on the Government to unfreeze the Local Housing Allowance to cover average rent.

Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “It is simply absurd that housing benefit support fails to reflect the reality of rents as they currently stand. All the freeze is doing is exacerbating the already serious cost of living crisis.

“The Chancellor needs to listen and respond to the concerns of both renters and landlords and unfreeze housing benefits as a matter of urgency.”