A Bill to require the Secretary of State to report to Parliament on the merits of repealing those provisions of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 which provide for persons to be paid reduced rates of housing benefit or universal credit because their accommodation is deemed to be under-occupied.
House of Commons
2 November 2023
May contain errors — check source documents for definitive information.
This Bill would require the Secretary of State to report to Parliament on whether the under-occupancy penalty in the Welfare Reform Act 2012 should be repealed. The penalty reduces housing benefit or universal credit for households deemed to have more bedrooms than needed. It does not repeal the rule itself; it asks Parliament to consider the merits of repeal based on the government’s assessment.
As of 20 June 2022, the Bill is at the 1st reading in the House of Commons; no further stages have yet taken place.
Generated 21 February 2026
20 Jun 2022
The 2022-2023 session of Parliament has prorogued and this Bill will make no further progress.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
