Housing Associations will welcome the news that those aged 18-21 will once again be entitled to housing benefit.  

From 1 April 2017, those aged 18-21 were not eligible for the housing element of universal credit unless they fell into certain categories (e.g. if they had children, or if living with their parents was likely to cause significant harm).  This policy was blamed for a rise in homelessness amongst young people, as landlords weren't confident that they would be able to afford their rent.  Of course, there are additional factors that have also contributed, e.g. increasing rents and insufficient affordable housing to meet demand.

In reality, the policy proved expensive to administer, and did not produce significant savings for the Government.  

The recent U-turn will give young people more freedom of choice, and more independence.

Ministers have reversed a 2014 move stopping people under the age of 21 automatically getting housing benefit