UK's new social housing rule won't meet aims: report

London

BRITAIN'S "pay to stay" rule requiring social housing tenants to pay higher rents may leave local councils worse off, cause stress for families and fail to generate expected revenues for central government, according to a report published on Monday.

The plans will force higher rents on an estimated 70,000 households, said the report by estate agent Savills for the Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils in England and Wales.

Councils in England housing tenants with a household income of £31,000 (S$55,200) outside London and £40,000 in the capital will be required to raise their rents closer to market rates, under th…