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Council tenants who sub-let face fines and jail

Housing Minister Grant Shapps has revealed plans to tackle council and social tenants who sub-let their property for financial gain. Offenders will face up to two years in prison for the new criminal offence or a fine of up to £50k The government estimates that 160k tenants sub-let their council or housing association homes to other people at an annual cost of £5bn a year to the... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on January 12th, 2012 in Property Rental, Social Housing

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Tenant rewards scheme slashes rent arrears

A housing association has hailed the success of a scheme that rewards tenants for keeping their rent up to date. The scheme, introduced 18 months ago by Orbit Heart of England housing association has seen rent arrears fall by half a million pounds. At a time where landlords reporting that rental arrears are rocketing, to see an organisation buck that trend is impressive. Orbit Heart of... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on November 11th, 2011 in Rent Arrears, Social Housing, Tenant Rights

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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

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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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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The UK’s hidden empty properties

The UK’s statistics for empty properties have been skewed by those waiting for renovation or are “pending demolition”. Empty Homes, a UK charity specialising in creating homes from empty property, applied for Freedom of Information requests. These revealed that there are 12,000 homes in the UK that are empty but not included in Local Authority statistics. These are the so-called... Read more

Posted by Simon @ Upad on June 3rd, 2011 in Property Rental, Social Housing

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Prize draw for those that pay their rent on time

Barnet Homes have come up with a new way to encourage tenants to pay their rent on time. They organised a prize draw, where four tenants who had paid their rent on time had a chance to win £250. Judging by the initiative Barnet Homes have had problems with tenants falling into arrears. This measure adds a little incentive for tenants to be on top of their rent. The main piece of advice is: it... Read more

Posted by Simon @ Upad on June 2nd, 2011 in Property Rental, Rent Arrears, Social Housing

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Plumber

Social housing tenants to maintain their own property

Grant Shapps has announced plans to allow social housing tenants to maintain their own rental properties. The aim is to reward tenants who keep their property in good condition by giving them the control over repairs. The Government claim that councils spend £1,000 maintaining each social housing property a year. Now they want to pass that responsibility over to the tenant. According to... Read more

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

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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1.75 million households waiting for social housing

The government has announced new figures on the number of families waiting for social housing. 1.75 households are on the waiting list for council or housing association housing, which they say is up 72% over the last 13 years. Housing Minister Grant Shapps said: "Today's figures underline the clear and pressing need to change the way social housing operates in this country. It is... Read more

Posted by Sue @ Upad on December 1st, 2010 in Social Housing

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Housing Benefit changes delayed for existing tenants

The BBC is reporting that the government's proposed changes to Local Housing Allowance rates are to be delayed for current claimants until January 2012. The changes cap weekly payments at rates from £250 a week for a one-bedroom property, and limit them to the lowest third of local rents rather than the current average. Changes were due to be introduced for all tenants in April 2011, but -... Read more

Posted by Sue @ Upad on November 29th, 2010 in Housing Benefit, Social Housing

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