The gap between rental costs and benefits has grown to an average of £113 a month for Britain’s poorest private tenants.
The extra needed to cover the rent gap is even higher in London, where renters on full benefits need to find an additional £211.94 a month.
A survey by housing charity Shelter found that 37% were using benefits earmarked for living costs to pay the rent.
The rent gap has been widening at an average of 8% a year since housing benefit levels were frozen in 2016. While the overall benefit freeze will end in April, housing benefit will not be included.
