Propertymark calls for UK Government to implement its long-term policy asks following Sunak’s welfare speech

Propertymark has called for the UK Government to implement its long-term welfare asks to provide greater support to those in receipt of benefits following Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s speech on welfare reform on Friday 19 April.

The Prime Minister has now made it his ‘moral mission’ to reform welfare by stopping the benefits of those who do not cooperate with their work coaches, reforming Personal Independence Payments by requiring substantial medical evidence from doctors, and stating that he will ‘tighten’ the work capability assessment.

Propertymark has stated that it supports the early migration of legacy benefits such as Employment Support Allowance and the Housing Benefit element of the Employment Support Allowance onto Universal Credit as most people on Universal Credit will be better off because of this change, and those on the Housing Benefit element will be able to pay their rent on time.

However, the professional body’s main concern is that many of society’s most vulnerable people receive the Employment Support Allowance.

Propertymark said that it agrees with the Prime Minister that some people who can return to work should as it can benefit their mental health, but mental health conditions impact people of all age groups.

To support those who will be perceived fit for work after long-term sickness, Propertymark called for the Prime Minister to provide greater support. This would include ending the five-week wait for Universal Credit at the start of a claim and for any advance payments to be provided as a grant rather than a loan to ensure claimants do not fall into debt, something they have long campaigned for.

Propertymark also called on the Prime Minister to enact another longstanding welfare ask which is that the Housing Benefit element should be paid directly to a landlord as their rent, and for Local Housing Allowance Rates to be increased every year in line with market rates.

Finally, Propertymark argues that there should be specifically trained and regulated property professional agents who have immediate access to tenants’ work coaches when claims go awry or when rent is late.

Tim Thomas, Policy and Campaigns Officer at Propertymark, said:

“Propertymark has long campaigned for greater support for private tenants in receipt of benefits such as Housing Benefit being paid directly to landlords, Local Housing Allowance rates increasing every year in line with market rates, and regulated property agents having access to tenants’ work coaches. We are calling on the Prime Minister to enact Propertymark’s longstanding campaign pledges so that the country’s welfare system can work better for everyone, especially following his pledge to return many back into work.”