CIVIL servants have rejected a request to review housing benefit rules in York, in light of soaring rents in the city.

City of York Council housing bosses have had their pleas for a review of maximum housing benefit rates turned down, leading to fears that more and more people on lower incomes will struggle to find decent homes in the city.

The council asked for a review of the Broad Rental Market Assessment (BRMA) - which sets the maximum amount that people can claim in housing benefit in the area - because the rate for York is based on an area that takes in areas with lower rents. but the Valuation Office has refused to change the situation, despite York's higher housing costs.

Tom Brittain, Head of Housing at the city council, said: “The York Broad Rental Market Assessment (BRMA) includes markedly different and less expensive market towns and rural areas outside the council boundaries. The Local Housing Allowance rates, set by the Valuation Office Agency, fix the maximum amount of Housing Benefit (HB) for private tenants, and are based on the lowest 30 per cent of private market rents being paid in the BRMA. It also applies to the maximum amount of help for private renters who claim Universal Credit (UC).

"This means that York residents who are on a low income or who get HB or UC will continue to struggle to afford to rent in the private sector."

The ruling is all the more frustrating for councillors and council workers, as they have no right of appeal against the decision of the Valuation Office.

Conservative councillor David Carr, the executive member for housing, first pushed for the review in a council motion he tabled in December. It said that because York's BRMA included rental markets "markedly different" from those in York, including less expensive rural and market towns like Easingwold, Malton, Pocklington, Selby and beyond, York residents were at a disadvantage.

Cllr Ian Cuthbertson, the Lib Dem finance spokesman on the council, said it was disappointing to be refused help.

He added: "The current policy ignores the higher housing costs in York and makes it very difficult for some local residents to be able to afford to rent in the private sector.

"Regrettably, the Government seems unwilling to address the issue and help those struggling in York"

Council leader Chris Stewart said: "We had been advised by officers that it was always going to be difficult to challenge the market area set by the Valuation Office Agency. 

"However, we felt that the current boundaries put York residents at such a disadvantage that it was important to try. We are very disappointed that the cogent argument we put forward was not accepted and will be taking advice regarding where we can go from here."