Crystal Bubble

Are rents too high?

There is plenty of good news in the rental sector right now. Tenant demand is strong and shows little sign of waning. With demand strong and supply less fluid, rents have continued to increase in most of Britain. In London the average monthly rent is £1000, elsewhere it weighs in at £700. Good news you might think. But there is a downside. Pundits are reporting that rising rents are at risk... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on November 4th, 2011 in Housing Benefit, Property Market

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Housing associations step in as UK is confronted with ‘growing housing crisis’

According to a study conducted by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), England is confronted with a ‘growing housing crisis’, as a shortfall of 750,000 homes is predicted by 2025. The research revealed the biggest shortfall of housing would be in London, the South East of England, the East, and Yorkshire and Humberside. However, while the pressing need for us to build more... Read more

Posted by Simon @ Upad on November 4th, 2011 in Housing Benefit, Property Market, Property Rental, Social Housing

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Council High Rise

Housing benefit to be paid direct to landlords with tenants in arrears

The direct payment of Housing Benefit to landlords rather than tenants is back on the table, according to Welfare Minister, Lord Freud. In a speech to the National Housing Federation conference, he said that landlords will receive benefit payments directly as part of the new universal credit system. If their tenants fall into rent arrears, Lord Freud said that the main aim of this measure was to... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on September 23rd, 2011 in Evicting Tenants, Housing Benefit, Property Rental, Rent Arrears, Social Housing

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Landlord convicted of £21k benefit fraud

A Sussex landlord has been convicted of a £21k benefit fraud, after it was revealed that he had failed to declare rental income from a property he was letting out. Bab Saracouli, 43, of Barons Way, Polegate in East Sussex was found guilty of pocketing more £21,391 in council tax relief and housing benefits whilst also trousering £775 in monthly rental payments from a property he part owns... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on August 30th, 2011 in Housing Benefit, Landlord Legislation

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Landlords: We won’t rehouse evicted council house rioters.

In the aftermath of the riots in London, and other parts of the country, we posed a question here on the Upad blog: "should rioters lose their council homes?" We were overwhelmed with dozens of comments and the response was unambiguous. The vast majority answered: “Yes!” Jane spoke for many when she answered, “Of course they should! There are plenty of law abiding citizens on waiting... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on August 26th, 2011 in Evicting Tenants, Housing Benefit, Property Rental

Council High Rise

Private Landlords back away from LHA Tenants

15% of private landlords say they will stop taking on Local Housing Allowance (LHA) tenants in response to the coalition government's changes to the level of payments, according to BDRC Continental's Landlords panel. The research strongly suggests that the changes to the level of LHA payments, which will be capped to the 30th percentile of local rents, will drive many private landlord away... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on August 25th, 2011 in Housing Benefit, Property Rental

London Riots 2011

Should rioters lose their council houses?

In the race to be the toughest on law and order, in the aftermath of the riots and looting across the country earlier in the week, the Prime Minister and Communities Secretary have both said that convicted rioters should lose out on benefits and possibly even their social housing. The Prime Minister, David Cameron, said in the House of Commons yesterday: "To the law-abiding people who play by... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on August 12th, 2011 in Evicting Tenants, Housing Benefit, Property Rental, Social Housing, Tenant Rights

Council High Rise

Is this really fair?

It is another case of “is this really fair?” as a Labour Councillor worth over £1m, resided in a taxpayer subsidised council home. In a twist of irony the Councillor is also a buy-to-let landlord with a significant property portfolio. According to the Telegraph, Ayesha Chowdbury lived in a housing association property in the Beckton area of East London. There have been rumours that she... Read more

Posted by Simon @ Upad on August 12th, 2011 in Housing Benefit, Property Rental, Social Housing

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Government: Benefit changes will create 40k homeless households

A leaked government memo from Eric Pickles' Communities department to the Prime Minister David Cameron, reveals that changes to Housing Benefit and LHA, and a proposed cap on all benefits, will result in 40k households in Britain becoming homeless. The leaked document also predicts that affordable house building will not meet forecasts. The memo notes that the savings from cuts to benefits will... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on July 14th, 2011 in Housing Benefit, Property Rental, Social Housing

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50% of Landlords will reduce lets to housing benefit tenants

A survey by the National Landlords Association (NLA) reports that over 50% of landlords will be reducing the number of properties they let to housing benefit tenants. According to the survey, 58% stated that they would cut the properties they let to tenants on housing benefits. 90% of those landlords plan to do so in the next 18 months. One third revealed that they would be taking action... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on July 7th, 2011 in Housing Benefit, National Landlords Association NLA, Property Rental

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Boris: The Landlords’ Champion?

One year into the coalition government, it's difficult to see what has changed to the advantage of private residential landlords. Many had high hopes after 13 years of Labour government, that the promised "bonfire of red tape" would be a boon for landlords. Instead, the significant changes to housing benefit and local housing allowance are the biggest development for landlords and those changes... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on July 1st, 2011 in Housing Benefit, Landlord Legislation, Property Rental, Social Housing

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Ask Upad: My social tenant is in arrears, how do I get direct payments?

Q: I rent a flat to a couple who receive Housing Benefit. They have fallen into arrears and I want to take action to have the rent they get paid directly to me. The tenants themselves are not being very communicative but obviously I still have expenses to meet. What do I do to get their rent paid directly to me? A: Local authorities must make direct payments to landlords if a tenant has rent... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on May 25th, 2011 in Ask Upad, Housing Benefit, Rent Arrears

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RLA in pre-Budget campaign for the private rental sector

The RLA have been campaigning for proposals to support the private rental sector. The budget is now just over a month away, and with rental properties on the rise, now is the time to fully bring the private rental sector to the Government’s attention. RLA have briefed key MPs and peers, urging support for financial assistance helping to treat the sector as a business. The response so far... Read more

Posted by Simon @ Upad on March 8th, 2011 in Housing Benefit, Property Rental

Kids on the block (series)

Social housing tenants facing tough future

Grant Shapps is looking to revolutionise the social housing market by removing the right to council houses for life and allowing landlords the flexibility to charge rent based on what the tenant ‘can afford’. This is all part of the new Affordable Rent programme. Landlords will be able to charge up to 80% of the market rate if they feel the tenant can afford it. The idea being there is no... Read more

Posted by Simon @ Upad on February 21st, 2011 in Housing Benefit, Property Rental, Social Housing

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Landlords who reduce rents can receive LHA direct

The government has announced that landlords who reduce rents for tenants on benefits will be able to receive Local Housing Allowance paid directly to them. Currently, LHA is paid to tenants who are then expected to pass it on to their landlord: however, some landlords have stated that this does not happen and the system has led many to avoid tenants on benefits altogether. Local authorities... Read more

Posted by Sue @ Upad on December 7th, 2010 in Housing Benefit, Social Housing

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