rough sleeper

Housing Benefits changes put 1 million at risk of homelessness

We’ve been reading a report from the National Housing Federation and we’re particularly alarmed by some of the findings they’ve made. We totally agree with them that there is a case for reform and simplification of the “unwieldy” benefits system but the Federation suggests that the proposed changes “will leave around 936,000 people at risk of being driven into debt, falling into... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on August 12th, 2010 in Housing Benefit, Property Rental

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what's the benefit

What’s the benefit? Campaign against damaging changes to housing benefit

Upad is very happy to be supporting Inside Housing's campaign for an alternative to the Chancellor's plans for changes to Housing Benefit next year. James Davis, Upad's CEO, who currently lets eight properties to tenants receiving LHA, says: "Whilst as a taxpayer I accept the current HB bill is excessive, capping rents will dramatically reduce the number of landlords willing to let in this... Read more

Posted by Sue @ Upad on July 15th, 2010 in Buy-to-let, Housing Benefit, Property Market, Upad

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Parkhill3

Private landlords fear effects of housing benefit changes

Private landlords remain generally confident in the state of the industry, despite concerns about a double dip recession and the effects of the changes to benefit payments announced in the Budget. That’s the finding from the latest Landlord Confidence Index survey from Upad.co.uk. 60% of the 284 landlords responding to the survey said that they were more confident this month than last. From... Read more

Posted by Sue @ Upad on July 13th, 2010 in Property Market, Upad

George Osborne

The Death of the Social Landlord?

Thousands of vulnerable families will lose their homes under government reforms of the Housing Benefit system announced in yesterday's Budget. Chancellor George Osborne has said that maximum rates of Local Housing Allowance will be reduced to between £280 per week for a one-bedroomed property to £400 for a four- or more bedroomed house. There has been no indication of any local weighting... Read more

Posted by Sue @ Upad on June 23rd, 2010 in Property Rental

Businesswoman signing the contract.

Why let to tenants on benefits?

When Upad's CEO James Davis started renting to social tenants, it began as a purely financial decision – but he soon found that there are more advantages to this sector than simply higher rents. James admits that originally it was simply the higher rental rates offered by housing benefit that attracted him. “I knew that HB has a bad reputation with some landlords,” he says, “but the... Read more

Posted by Sue @ Upad on June 9th, 2010 in Property Market, Property Rental, Tips for New Landlords

Landlord seminars : making LHA work for you

LandlordAction, the tenant debt recovery and eviction specialists, are running a series of seminars for landlords on Local Housing Allowance. Taking place in Manchester, Birmingham and London, the seminars aim to help landlords cut through the red tape of the LHA system and realise just how profitable it could be for them. Topics covered include: • LHA Safeguard Policies • Cash... Read more

Posted by Sue @ Upad on March 30th, 2010 in Events

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LHA and landlords – benefit or curse?

One of the questions we hear from tenants most often is where can I find a landlord who'll let to tenants on housing benefit? As many as one in ten renters may be receiving benefit, so when these tenants represent such a huge proportion of the market, why do so many landlords state "no DSS" in their adverts – and are they right to do so? For some, it's because they have no choice. Some... Read more

Posted by Sue @ Upad on March 5th, 2010 in Landlord Legislation, Legal, Property Rental, Tips for New Landlords

Government to impose new maximum for Housing Benefit

The Times reports that the government plans to “crack down on excessive Housing Benefit payments”, in an effort to cut the annual £17 billion rental bill. The newspaper states that the action is intended to “stop families on benefit living in palatial homes at the taxpayers’ expense”: they cite the case of Essma Marjam and her six children who have claimed £1,600 per week for a... Read more

Posted by Sue @ Upad on February 23rd, 2010 in Property Rental

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LHA can be good news for landlords

Shadow Housing Minister Grant Shapps announced earlier this week that a Tory government would restore tenants' rights to have Local Housing Allowance (LHA) paid directly to landlords. He said: It strikes me that the current situation is bad for everyone and I can see no reason why people on Local Housing Allowance shouldn’t enjoy the freedom to have their Housing Benefit paid direct to their... Read more

Posted by James @ Upad on October 29th, 2009 in Buy-to-let, Housing Benefit, Legal

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LHA decision “good news for landlords”

A Housing Benefit Tribunal has ruled that a tenant's rental arrears begin as soon as their due date to pay rent has passed, not eight weeks later as some local authorities have argued. Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is paid directly from the local authority to the tenant - but unlike most rent, it's paid in arrears. If a tenant is eight weeks or more in arrears with their payments, their... Read more

Posted by James @ Upad on October 27th, 2009 in Legal

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