I understand it that the tenants who are living in large crowds in one house do so to pay less rent.
Housing benefit is calculated on an ara basis. One gets so and so much for living in a particular area, regardless of how much one actually pays on rent.
It is important to state whether it is a bed-sit, joint tenancy, or single room with shared kitchen and bathroom etc.
One is also supposed to state how many other tenants live in the same building, and in the same room/rooms.
I immagine that there must be immigrants who are getting housing benefits that are much higher than what they are paying as rent, if they are living 2/3/5 to a room!
At the end of the day, though, these people end up with a part of the housing benefit in their own pocket, so it works out both for the landkord or tenant who is sub-renting out, and the crowds who are lodging. Simples.
Even if the lodgers are working and not on housing benefit, it still means that they pay less of their wages to the landlord or tenant who is sub-renting out.
If many immigrants choose to live that way for their own financial gain, what can we do about it?
As for bedbugs, they are not choosy
