Briefing: Budget Debate 2021

Summary

The 2021 Budget made it clear that the Chancellor recognises that the economic impact of COVID-19 is far from over. However, if we are to truly build back better from the pandemic, housing must be at the heart of our recovery.

In order to tackle the housing emergency, we must invest in social housing, provide further protections to private renters, and ensure that housing benefit is fit for purpose. Shelter is calling on the government to:

1. Strengthen the welfare safety net by removing the benefit cap, making the Universal Credit uplift permanent, and unfreezing Local Housing Allowance.

2. Give security to private renters by bringing forward the Renters Reform Bill and finally putting an end to Section 21 'no fault' evictions.

3. Invest in a new generation of social housing to lift hundreds of thousands out of homelessness and poor housing into affordable, permanent homes.