News and media

From 1 May, the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act will strengthen protections for private renters, ending no‑fault evictions, rental discrimination and fixed‑term tenancies. Welcoming this important step towards safer, more secure and more affordable renting, a supportive statement from CEO Joanna Elson CBE appeared in over 30 national and regional outlets. You can read the story in the Independent, ITV News, and LBC.

Independent Age Chief Executive Joanna Elson CBE had an opinion piece published by Inside Housing, on the need to end the freeze to Local Housing Allowance (LHA). LHA should cover the cheapest 30% of rented homes in the local area, but, as well as being stuck at the same level since 2024, it’s been frozen for eight out of the last 15 years. The article shared recent research commissioned by Independent Age, which shows that currently, inadequate levels of LHA are pulling over 37,000 older private renters into poverty. Morgan Vine, Director of Policy, Grants and Influencing, also had an opinion piece discussing the issue published in the Big Issue. 

Independent Age contributed to this story about renting in later life in the iPaper. We provided one of our media volunteers, Linda, to share her experience of renting in later life and how it is "fraught with difficulties". Our Director of Policy, Grants and Influencing, Morgan Vine, also provided comments, highlighting that while highlighting that while the Renters Rights Act improves security, many older renters still face unaffordable rents, particularly where housing benefit falls short. You can read the full story here. 

Independent Age Chief Executive Joanna Elson CBE had an opinion piece published by Inside Housing following the launch of our report Out of the Cold. The article highlights key findings from the report and sets out recommendations including clearer tenant guidance, stronger protections against rent increases and eviction, improved access to local advice, and the introduction of an energy social tariff to help prevent fuel poverty. Read the full article here.

Independent Age Chief Executive Joanna Elson CBE had an opinion piece published by Labour List, on the UK Government’s Warm Homes Plan, which commits to raising Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) for the private rented sector (PRS) in England and Wales. The article was shared following the release of our new report Out of the cold: Making Minimum Energy Standards work for older private renters. Read the full article here. 

Independent Age Chief Executive Joanna Elson CBE had an opinion piece published by Big Issue, outlining how the UK government could bring down the numbers of pensioners living in poverty in 2026. She suggests the introduction of social tariffs for utilities, uprating Local Housing Allowance and the reversal of the mixed age couples rule that sees people with partners under 67 currently unable to receive Pension Credit. Read the full article here.