Home > Filing Cabinet > Rent Arrears >
Rent Arrears
Includes: rent arrears, rent policy, housing benefit, financial inclusion, anti-social behaviour, performance information etc
'We'll only do this as a last resort...' - Cash-strapped council to write off £5.8 million of 'irrecoverable' debt
05 November, 2019
The debt includes unpaid council tax and business rates, rent arrears and overpaid housing benefit
LIN member report October 2019 - Local housing allowance rates
31 October, 2019
LIN member report by Neil Merrick
'Charity shops too expensive': Soaring rent arrears and food bank referrals for Universal Credit claimants in Islington
30 October, 2019
Universal Credit claimants in Islington Council have accumulated nearly four times the rent arrears as people on Housing Benefit
Somerset West and Taunton Council says Universal Credit has increased rent arrears
23 October, 2019
Around one third of all council tenants in the area are struggling to pay their rent
Centrepoint wants benefits review as gig economy drives rent arrears
10 October, 2019
Survey shows just over two in five respondents had difficulties with their benefit claim when in gig work
Move to suspend rent arrears tenants from Darlington council housing
08 October, 2019
Leading members of a local authority which has refused to allow its stock of council housing go into private hands look set to approve changes to the criteria for getting social houses
Safe as Houses 3: Have government reforms to Universal Credit reduced the rent arrears of Southwark's tenants?
18 September, 2019
Southwark was one of the first areas of the country to see Universal Credit full service roll out
Universal Credit: direct rent payments 'more effective than government reforms for curbing arrears'
17 September, 2019
Direct rent payments for tenants on Universal Credit have been more effective at keeping them out of arrears than government reforms introduced last year
Third of Corby council tenants in arrears
02 September, 2019
Almost a third of people living in a Corby council house are in arrears
Over half of landlords letting to Universal Credit tenants experiencing arrears
23 August, 2019
Universal Credit is causing tenants to fall behind with their rent
Rudd stresses work with PRS over application of Local Housing Allowance
24 July, 2019
Work and Pensions Secretary says reassessment of LHA should be a priority with benefits freeze thawed
DWP urged to option direct Universal Credit payments to landlords
22 July, 2019
Parliamentary report also says direct payment should be by default where there is a history of rent arrears or debt
West Midlands Mayor goes 'blue on blue' to battle homelessness
22 July, 2019
Tory West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has gone 'blue on blue' to back an urgent rethink part of the benefits system to tackle homelessness
DWP urged to option direct Universal Credit payments to landlords
19 July, 2019
Parliamentary report also says direct payment should be by default where there is a history of rent arrears or debt
Social tenants 'burn through' rent money to maintain smoking habits
27 June, 2019
Campaign group calculates stopping smoking could clear arrears within nine weeks
Single mother wins court battle after being forced into homelessness due to housing benefit shortfall
13 June, 2019
Supreme Court rules it was unlawful for Birmingham Council to try force mother-of-four to spend money intended for basic daily living needs on rent because housing benefit had been reduced
Universal Credit responsible for increasing rent arrears
12 June, 2019
Universal credit has greatly increased rent arrears, with immediate action now needed in order to tackle the issue
Holyrood challenges Westminster on Universal Credit rent arrears
12 June, 2019
But delegates at Housing Scotland 2019 get talk of "compassion" from DWP boss
Minister slammed for speaking 'DWP waffle' during Commons debate
07 June, 2019
Rent arrears raised at Westminster Hall session on Universal Credit and debt
Universal Credit: ever-growing number of people left in arrears
05 June, 2019
Universal Credit is still pushing tens of thousands into financial crisis just weeks ahead of the second half of its introduction
Buy-to-let regulation blamed as landlord arrears increase
10 May, 2019
Buy-to-let mortgage arrears increased in the first quarter of 2019, prompting concerns that disgruntled tenants are stopping paying rent as a result of landlords giving them notice and exiting the sector
Social landlords offered 'solution' to Universal Credit arrears
10 May, 2019
Study of five registered landlords finds an £60,000-£130,000 increase in rent arrears per thousand tenants
UC creates 'systematic indebtedness' for new claimants
04 April, 2019
A SFHA survey reveals levels of arrears for tenants is much higher when they claim Universal Credit
'Flippant' DWP minister says many tenants in rent arrears before claiming UC
21 March, 2019
But Justin Tomlinson acknowledges analysis is underway with social housing providers as to the "true level" of arrears
Anger as tenants told 'pay a little extra each week' to avoid Universal Credit rent arrears
11 March, 2019
Families say they're already struggling and will find it hard to find the money to make up the shortfall
Council owed £400k in rent after universal credit roll out
26 February, 2019
People on universal credit are leaving Brighton and Hove City Council almost £400,000 short when it comes to paying their rent
Council rent arrears expected to double as impact of Universal Credit begins to bite
04 January, 2019
Rent arrears from council tenants are expected to double in Barnsley as the full impact of the Government's switch to the controversial Universal Credit system takes hold
Hard-up Walsall people suffering due to Universal Credit
02 January, 2019
It is claimed that recipients are facing increased debt and rent arrears
Universal credit is 'broken'
30 November, 2018
Average levels of rent arrears among council tenants on universal credit are more than three times the level of those on legacy benefits
Universal credit: Rent arrears double for benefit claimants
12 November, 2018
Council tenants on universal credit have on average more than double the rent arrears of those still on housing benefit
Citizens Advice Scotland report demand for rent arrears advice up 40%
18 October, 2018
Demand for advice on rent arrears has increased by 40% over the last five years
Nearly two-thirds of PRS tenants claiming Universal Credit in arrears
15 October, 2018
Increasing numbers of private renters in receipt of Universal Credit are finding themselves in rent arrears
Arrears for Welsh housing association tenants on Universal Credit up 150%
11 October, 2018
Housing associations in Wales have seen rent arrears among tenants claiming Universal Credit rise 150% since December
Help calls for rent arrears treble over 10 years
05 September, 2018
Money Advice Trust has set out specific recommendations for the sector as housing related debts rise
Call for extra action over council housing arrears
30 July, 2018
Council house tenants should pay their rents or face being kicked out of their homes
LIN member report July 2018 - The "Housing Court" - What Does This Mean For Landlords?
23 July, 2018
LIN member report by Kevin McCready
Government will pay arrears to thousands of benefit claimants
18 July, 2018
U-turn means repayments owed as a result of errors will be backdated to 2011
Rent collection service aims to offer landlords 'financial security'
06 July, 2018
Unpaid rent and rent arrears are the main reason for tenant evictions, according to Belvoir's Q1 rental index
Landlord couple want to see letting agent banned over unpaid rent
04 July, 2018
A couple who claim they are owed thousands of pounds in unpaid rent have called for a ban on the letting agency accused of withholding the money
Call of the week: Section 21 documents
28 June, 2018
This week, a landlord called us with a question about serving a Section 21 notice and when he needed to serve the documents on his renewal tenancy.
Arhag needs landlords for Syrian refugees
26 June, 2018
Specialist association offering incentives including carrying out and funding repairs and guaranteed monthly rental income for 3-5 years
Council 'inaction' leaves renters at risk of revenge evictions
18 June, 2018
Just one in six private tenants living in an unsafe home is getting council protection from a revenge eviction, new figures show.
Council rent arrears soars for Dundee tenants on Universal Credit
21 May, 2018
Social rent arrears run up by Dundee council tenants on Universal Credit have doubled since the start of the year
Increasing rent arrears and rising homelessness causing concerns across the north of Scotland
02 May, 2018
Increasing rent arrears and homelessness across Ross & Cromarty gave local councillors cause for concern at yesterday's Highland Council area meeting in Dingwall
Rising rent arrears a major risk to building new affordable homes
01 May, 2018
Fife families are struggling to pay their rent due to universal credit, posing a threat to construction of affordable housing in the region
Deposit cap a 'charter for rent cheats'
23 March, 2018
'Ministers need to address the problem of tenants failing to pay rent every bit as strongly as rogue landlords.'
Pressure on social landlords set to rise as Universal Credit rolls out
23 March, 2018
Report reveals rent being collected directly from tenants by housing officers will increase by 63.1% on average
Universal Credit claimants in Plymouth are struggling to pay rent
20 March, 2018
Official for Plymouth Community Homes admits it's a 'serious position'
Universal Credit leaves thousands of Londoners in rent arrears
01 March, 2018
More than 70% of council tenants in London on Universal Credit are in rent arrears
As a campaigner, I believe the Tories can fix homelessness
23 February, 2018
The 2008 financial crash that triggered austerity happened on Labour's watch. We've been dealing with the fallout ever since
The seven reasons why landlords won't let to tenants on benefits
22 February, 2018
Private sector landlords are accused of unfairly turning away households claiming housing benefit. So why do they refuse
More than 17,000 UK students face university rent arrears
22 January, 2018
Figures show 16% rise in those facing housing debt and a doubling of evictions
Millions owed by Dundee council tenants in rent arrears
08 January, 2018
Millions of pounds is owed to Dundee City Council in rent arrears
Universal credit 'could affect building of new homes'
13 December, 2017
Rent arrears caused by delays in tenants receiving universal credit could hamper housing associations' building plans
Housing homeless in hotels tops £100,000 in Gloucestershire
23 November, 2017
More than £100,000 has been spent by local authorities in Gloucestershire since January 2016 putting up homeless people in hotels.
Reducing UC wait to 31 days 'would not be enough'
22 November, 2017
Social landlords have warned that a cut in the UC waiting time from six weeks to 31 days would not go far enough to help tenants reduce their arrears
Landlady left with £9,500 rent arrears by tenant on universal credit
20 November, 2017
Property owner says she will not rent to recipients again - as fears rise more will follow suit
Landlord defends sending eviction letters ahead of universal credit rollout
16 November, 2017
Lincolnshire property firm sends formal notice of possession to all tenants in case universal credit leads to rent arrears
Landlord threatens mass evictions ahead of universal credit rollout
15 November, 2017
Lincolnshire property firm sends formal notice of possession to all tenants in case universal credit leads to rent arrears
Families in a Welsh city are £73,000 in debt after just two months of the universal credit pilot
25 October, 2017
It amounts to around £830 per family
Universal credit behind rising rent arrears and food bank use, 'guinea pig' councils say
24 October, 2017
Research by Southwark and Croydon councils reveals devastating effect of new benefits system
Is Universal Credit leading to rent arrears?
12 October, 2017
Half of all council tenants on Universal Credit are at least a month in arrears in their rent
Young people worst affected by debt crisis
21 September, 2017
Rent arrears, benefit changes and insecure work contributing to rise in number of young people seeking advice
Government attempts to tackle growing rent arrears under Universal Credit
19 September, 2017
The government will attempt to tackle a sharp increase in rent arrears under Universal Credit by rolling out initiatives that give landlords more control over their tenants' rental payments
Homelessness rise 'likely to have been driven by welfare reforms'
13 September, 2017
The number of homeless families in the UK has risen by more than 60% and is 'likely to have been driven' by the government's welfare reform
Increase in evictions are result of renters facing 'impossible choices'
04 September, 2017
Rising evictions are being driven by a toxic mix of low wages and reductions in benefits
Sharp rent arrears rise in Ross-shire blamed on new Universal Credit benefit system
21 August, 2017
Rent arrears for council house tenants have doubled in some areas of Ross-shire in just two years - and the controversial universal credit scheme has been blamed for the sharp rise
Almost 90% of Universal Credit tenants are in rent arrears
17 August, 2017
South Lanarkshire Council says tenants in receipt of universal credit have accrued rent arrears totalling more than half a million pounds
Rent Arrears and the Sweet Science
14 August, 2017
As Digital Transformation Manager for Housing Services at Hackney Council, I get to run some really fun and interesting projects
The RLA's Manifesto: A fairer approach to Welfare Reform
26 May, 2017
There are a growing number of tenants in receipt of benefits now living in the PRS
Rent Arrears: The human element
24 May, 2017
Rent arrears is a perennial issue for social landlords, as welfare reforms hit tenants and increases the risk they'll fall behind with their payments
Evictions by social landlords in Scotland 2012-2016
27 April, 2017
This research report looks at social sector evictions due to rent arrears in Scotland over the last four years
Universal Credit arrears 'frightening'
22 March, 2017
The deliberate exclusion of social landlords from the Universal Credit system means arrears levels are even worse than was originally feared
SFHA welcomes Scottish Government call to halt Universal Credit full service roll-out
22 March, 2017
Feedback from SFHA members has revealed the system is causing hardship to vulnerable households and has resulted in unprecedented levels of rent arrears
Poplar HARCA drives down arrears with RentSense
10 March, 2017
Poplar HARCA have created efficiencies, reduced arrears and prepared themselves for Universal Credit by investing in Mobysoft's RentSense application
Melissa and millions like her are just one unpaid bill away from the abyss
24 February, 2017
As the cocktail of long-term austerity, rising living costs and a slumping post-Brexit economy hits, what's really frightening is the crisis that is brewing but is barely being noticed
Benefit freeze tenants 'shouldn't be taken to court for rent arrears'
16 February, 2017
Council tenants should not be taken to court if they cannot pay their rent due to benefit freezes
'I borrowed money from my mum to buy food': life on universal credit
09 February, 2017
Recipients are falling into rent arrears because of payment delays, forcing some to rely on food banks
Universal credit flaws pushing claimants towards debt and eviction
07 February, 2017
Recipients falling into rent arrears because of payment delays, forcing them to turn to food banks
Universal Credit tenants in arrears increases to 86%
16 January, 2017
The percentage of council tenants on Universal Credit in rent arrears has increased to a "critically high" 86% over the past year
East Lothian rent arrears up 20 per cent in first three months of Universal Credit
20 December, 2016
Universal Credit has caused a 20 per cent rise in rent arrears from East Lothian Council tenants in just three months
Welfare Reform Impact report
13 December, 2016
This report considers the impact of the changes in welfare support on social landlords' income, arrears and collection costs
Council tenant's legal challenge to rent agreement rejected
05 October, 2016
A council house tenant who challenged an occupancy agreement after falling into arrears has had her petition dismissed
Rent arrears: Lost in translation
05 October, 2016
New research has claimed an indisputable link between the introduction of Universal Credit and tenants getting behind in their rent
Over 87,000 London children without a permanent home
19 July, 2016
Since 2025 there has been a 44% increase in the number of London children living in temporary accommodation
Freud orders 'urgent' review into Universal Credit arrears
18 July, 2016
Lord David Freud has commissioned an 'urgent' review into the high rate of rent arrears owed by Universal Credit claimants
Rental arrears fall as tenants get their finances back on track
15 June, 2016
Rental arrears fell by 4% in the first three months of the year
Debt and food banks: the legacy of universal credit's Long Hello
10 June, 2016
There is fresh evidence that lengthy waits for a first benefit payment faced by universal credit claimants trigger hunger and rent arrears
Universal Credit Leads to Rent Arrears
09 June, 2016
Universal Credit is to blame for 79% of rent arrears since its roll-out in England.
Universal Credit leads to rent arrears
07 June, 2016
Universal Credit is to blame for 79% of rent arrears cases
Landlord reveals findings of direct payment 'pilot'
19 May, 2016
A housing association is calling for changes to Universal Credit, after its unofficial 'pilot' showed tenants receiving housing benefit payments direct are more likely to fall into arrears
Struggling generation rent is being driven into debt
04 April, 2016
Figures from charities reveal how people unable to get on the housing ladder are under pressure from overdrafts, loans and arrears in rent
Fears council house evictions could rise due to benefits changes
01 April, 2016
Aberdeenshire's local authority has raised concerns that the number of council house evictions in the area may rise under the government's new universal credit scheme
East Dunbartonshire Council launches rent arrears advertising campaign
02 February, 2016
A council advertising campaign aimed at tackling the issue of rent arrears is underway in East Dunbartonshire
Changeover to universal credit is driving people into long-term debt
27 January, 2016
Waits of more than seven weeks for the first payment create arrears that can plague claimants for months or years
Council considers writing off £436,000 of historical rent arrears
27 January, 2016
Councillors in West Dunbartonshire will be asked to consider writing off historical debts from former council tenants at a meeting next week
More than one in four Britons fear rent or mortgage arrears in 2016
20 January, 2016
Over a quarter of Britons fear they will fall into rent or mortgage arrears in 2016
Serious rent arrears worsening towards 2013 highs
13 January, 2016
Cases of tenants seriously behind on rent are rising once more
Rents rise - and so do tenants arrears
08 January, 2016
More and more tenants are getting into trouble with their rents
Serious rent arrears worsening towards 2013 highs
08 January, 2016
Cases of tenants seriously behind on rent are rising once more
How social housing landlords can tackle the rise of rent arrears
08 January, 2016
Social landlords have a vital role to play in reducing this amount and payment flexibility is a critical success factor in achieving this
Dozens asked to leave homes for rent arrears and bad behaviour
30 December, 2015
Dozens of people have been thrown out of their council houses in Dundee this year after falling into rent arrears worth thousands of pounds
Council evicts 55 in a year
29 December, 2015
Dozens of people have been thrown out of their council houses this year after falling into rent arrears worth thousands of pounds
Lewisham Homes top for reducing arrears in the South
29 December, 2015
Lewisham Homes was the best performing organisation at reducing council tenants' rent arrears in the South of England last year
Council taking firm action to clampdown on rent arrears bills
15 September, 2015
Barking and Dagenham Council are taking firm action to clampdown on rent arrears bills
Low-income families in private housing face large benefit shortfalls
10 September, 2015
Freeze will leave 300,000 households in England hundreds of pounds behind on rent each month, says Shelter
Hundreds of Flintshire tenants in rent arrears due to bedroom tax
27 August, 2015
Council report reveals 660 residents feel impact of under-occupancy charge, with debts totalling £236,457
Local authorities refer 2.1 million debts to bailiffs in 12 months
27 August, 2015
Debt charity's research shows councils' use of bailiffs up 16% in two years
Knock knock knockin' on tenant's door
10 August, 2015
It has been over a year since the MoJ replaced a commercial landlord's centuries-old right of distress against his tenant to recover outstanding rent arrears
English housing survey 2013 to 2014: household report
17 July, 2015
Annual report on households in England, covering themes such as housing needs, housing moves, and vulnerable and disadvantaged groups
Bedroom tax sent council house rent arrears soaring in Swansea
10 July, 2015
Council house rent arrears shot up as a result of the bedroom tax, according to housing officers in Swansea
Millions spent papering over the cracks of bedroom tax disaster
02 July, 2015
Merseyside councils last year paid out £4.6 million in discretionary housing payments (DHPs) to help households affected by the bedroom tax
Bedroom tax protesters campaign at the Senedd
01 July, 2015
Campaigners from across South Wales attended the protest at the Senedd against the Bedroom Tax
Families struggle to close budget gap despite a pause in the rise of the cost of living
01 July, 2015
The cost of a decent standard of living, as defined by the public, has stopped rising for the first time since the recession began
David Cameron under pressure from Tory MPs to review controversial 'bedroom tax'
25 June, 2015
Conservative MPs reported the controversial policy proved hugely unpopular on the doorsteps during the general election campaign
Government accused of discriminating against private rented sector
24 June, 2015
Private landlords are facing discrimination as the Government rolls out Universal Credit
Arrears cause most stress to UK residential landlords
26 May, 2015
The majority of landlords in the UK find managing their properties more stressful than their full or part time jobs, with arrears causing the most worry
More tenants in rent arrears as they struggle on low pay
20 May, 2015
An increasing number of tenants struggled to pay rent in the first quarter of this year
Progress stalls for tenant finances in 2015
20 May, 2015
Progress for tenants significantly behind on rent has halted at the start of 2015
Social landlords welfare expect cuts to trigger new wave of homelessness
20 May, 2015
Further cuts to welfare funding by the UK government result in a surge in rent arrears
Tenant evictions reach six-year high amid rising rents and benefit cuts
14 May, 2015
Bailiffs in England and Wales evicted more than 11,000 families in the first three months of 2015, 51% higher than in same period five years ago
Arrears and repossessions fall across both home ownership and buy-to-let
14 May, 2015
Mortgage arrears and repossessions are falling across both owner-occupier and buy-to-let lending
Reduce the stress of your arrears process
08 May, 2015
A challenging rental market can generate extra stress when it comes to the arrears process
Council tax: six steps local authorities can take before sending in the bailiffs
13 April, 2015
Arrears need to be recovered in a more sustainable way to prevent households sinking into problem debt
Number of people in Wales seeking advice from debt charity StepChange grows by 84% over three years
27 March, 2015
StepChange said household bills were the main problem with arrears on rent, council tax and water bills all increasing since 2011
Councils turning to bailiffs to evict tenants, instead of helping them with rent arrears
09 March, 2015
Councils have been accused of turning to bailiffs and the courts rather than helping people in rent arrears
Social housing vacancies, lettings and rent arrears, 2013-14
06 March, 2015
Social housing refers to dwellings, bedsits and bedspaces owned, or partly owned, by local authorities and Registered Social Landlords
70% rise in Dundee council house rent arrears
03 March, 2015
The number of former council house tenants in arrears has risen by more than 70%
Over 31,000 Londoners facing eviction threat
29 January, 2015
More than 31,000 people in London are living under the threat of eviction
'We cut back on everything to pay the rent - including food'
21 January, 2015
Michelle and Kevin live in Cambridge. When Kevin became self-employed, a cut in tax credits and housing benefit left the family facing homelessness
Should I support 'rent control'? The devil is in the detail
21 January, 2015
At the beginning of the month the Independent reported that 'almost nobody in the UK is opposed to rent controls'; polling showed that 59% of people supported their reintroduction. 7% were in opposition and a sizeable 34% didn't know
Rent caps and protests: the housing issues to watch out for in 2015
09 January, 2015
With unaffordable homes, unrest among young people and a general election, here are the four issues that will dominate the housing headlines this year
Tenant finances getting worse in the UK private rented sector
08 January, 2015
Tenants in the UK have felt a financial setback with the number falling into serious rental arrears rising on an annual basis for the first time since 2012
Three million people are struggling to pay their rent
23 December, 2014
The Federation finds that the equivalent of three million people are struggling to pay their rent
Paying your rent this Christmas
22 December, 2014
Have a look at this video which shows the difficulties of paying your rent at Christmas and gives some options and guidance to help you out
Direct Payment Demonstration Projects: The longitudinal survey of tenants
19 December, 2014
This report is one of a series of outputs from the evaluation of the Direct Payment Demonstration Projects
Outlook for household finances hits survey - record high amid falling inflation expectations
18 December, 2014
This release contains the December findings from the Markit HFI, intended to anticipate changing consumer behaviour accurately.
1 in 6 people use their credit cards to pay housing costs
17 December, 2014
For most people, paying your mortgage or rent each month is your biggest bill
Landlords owed more than £800m in unpaid rent
16 December, 2014
32 per cent of landlords in the UK say they have experienced rent arrears in the last 12 months
Priority debts
15 December, 2014
Some bills are classed as priorities. This is because the consequences of not paying them is more serious than the consequences of not paying others
Rent arrears caused by DWP maladministration!
25 November, 2014
Earlier this year I highlighted a social security scandal relating to JSA/ESA sanctions and their unintended knock-on effect on housing benefit
Scale of arrears clawback plan sparks fears
21 November, 2014
Government-enforced changes to how landlords recoup rent arrears under universal credit could force tenants into the arms of loan sharks, housing associations have warned
Landlords to predict arrears with 'big data'
11 November, 2014
A housing charity is leading a consortium of social landlords to make the sector's first foray into using 'big data' from half a million homes to predict properties at risk of rent arrears
Who gave what: DHP allocation analysis
30 October, 2014
Last year, councils were allocated special funds to help housing benefit claimants struggling with welfare changes
16% of 'universal credit renters' in arrears after three months
24 October, 2014
Sixteen percent of universal credit claimants who rent a property found themselves in arrears after three months of claiming the new benefit
Evictions soar by 60% in wake of coalition's welfare cuts
21 October, 2014
The Tory-led coalition's welfare reforms appear to have led to a 60% increase in evictions due to rent arrears in the London Borough of Hackney
The bedroom tax - policy making in a league of its own
08 September, 2014
Patrick Butler highlighted in his article that the DWP's own studies have shown that 60% of tenants have been unable to pay the shortfall in their rent
Workers on the breadline: the families struggling to eat
06 September, 2014
Last year 3.3 million households claimed what are now called tax credits
Bedroom tax rent arrears double in a year
02 September, 2014
More than 300 Barnet households hit by the so-called bedroom tax have fallen into rent arrears - twice as many as this time last year
Quarter of Leicester City Council tenants in arrears with rent
29 August, 2014
More than a quarter of a council's tenants have fallen behind with their rent payments
10.5% of working parents in England skip meals to pay rent
28 August, 2014
Shelter also found that 37% cut back on buying food and 13% put off buying new shoes for their children to meet housing cost
DWP's new universal credit 'safeguards' include paying the rent itself
27 August, 2014
The Department for Work and Pensions is stepping up its efforts to keep tenant arrears down under universal credit
Move to Midlands or be homeless: London mum brands council 'inhumane'
26 August, 2014
Cecilia Bruce-Annan has been told to move with her three children to Stoke-on-Trent because of the benefits cap
Rent cap to control spiralling benefit costs 'would distort housing market'
26 August, 2014
Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers has dismissed calls for a rent cap to be introduced in a bid to control the spiralling cost of housing benefit
'Generation rent' suffers 10% drop in wages under coalition
22 August, 2014
Earnings for 18-to 21-year-olds have dropped by 10.3% since 2025, while 22-to 29-year-olds saw their weekly income fall 9.4%
Consultation on government's fuel poverty strategy published
22 August, 2014
Future governments will be required to tackle England's least energy efficient properties to fight fuel poverty
Mum of Derby disabled boy wins her bitter 'bedroom tax' battle
22 August, 2014
The mother of a severely disabled boy who was having her benefits slashed because of the so-called bedroom tax has won a rare legal victory
Benefit cash delays causing misery
20 August, 2014
A Five-week wait for benefit payments could push St Helens residents into rent arrears
Total rent arrears written off by Fife Council tops £1million
19 August, 2014
Rent arrears written off as bad debts by Fife Council have shot up by £256,000 in a year to just over £1million
UK rents 'rise by 2% in a year'
15 August, 2014
The cost of renting a home has risen by 2% in the last year, with increases seen across nearly every region of the UK
UK rents up £62 in a year
15 August, 2014
The average advertised rent in Britain increased by £62 (6.56%) in July 2014 compared to the same time last year, reaching £1,029 per month
Nearly 100 new homes for rent at below market rates
08 August, 2014
Nearly 100 new affordable homes are to be built at Western Harbour in Leith through the ground-breaking National Housing Trust initiative
Families still struggling to cope
08 August, 2014
People are still worried about rising living costs despite a growing economy
Council forced to write off £1.1 million in rent arrears following IT fault
07 August, 2014
An east London council has been forced to write-off £1.1 million in rent arrears following a malfunction with an IT system
Universal Credit: moving deductions from benefits for rent arrears
06 August, 2014
Deductions from benefits for rent arrears - migration to UC
Number of people in work claiming housing benefit soars
05 August, 2014
The number of working people relying on HB to boost their income has doubled in five years, at a cost of billions of pounds to the taxpayer
Bedroom tax could see council's rent arrears bill shoot up £19m
04 August, 2014
Sheffield City Council could see its rent arrears bill soar by £19 million as tenants struggle with the government's controversial bedroom tax
Police warn that 'relentless' bedroom tax is turning people into criminals
31 July, 2014
Concerns have been expressed by police chiefs that victims of the "Bedroom Tax" are being forced to turn to crime and loan sharks
Tenants pin hopes on bedroom tax speed dating
31 July, 2014
Iain Duncan Smith hopes 'speed dating' sessions for tenants affected by welfare reform will undo a housing log jam
Bedroom tax tenants in Bristol see rent arrears reach £725,000
31 July, 2014
Rent arrears for council tenants in Bristol who have been hit by the so-called bedroom tax have soared to more than £725,000
Personal insolvencies rise sparks fears for struggling households
30 July, 2014
Surge in individuals unable to repay their debts prompted fresh warnings over impact of future interest rate increase
Bedroom tax is forcing poorest citizens into unmanageable debt
18 July, 2014
A DWP report has found that 523,000 tenants have been unable to meet rent arrears due to housing-benefit caps
LSL Property Services' Tenant Arrears Tracker reveals 35% drop in tenants severely behind on rent payments
17 July, 2014
The number of tenants severely behind on rent payments has fallen by 35,000 (35%) in the last 12 months
FCA proposes payday loans cap of 0.8% per day
16 July, 2014
Plans for a cap on the amount that payday lenders can charge their customers have been announced by the City regulator
Child poverty - a collective responsibility this summer
16 July, 2014
With the summer holidays now upon us, how can housing providers better meet the needs of the low-income families they house?
Thousands of tenants without rent arrears face eviction
15 July, 2014
A growing number of private sector tenants are facing eviction despite being up to date with rent, a charity has revealed
Keeping rent arrears stable
14 July, 2014
By John Bryson, employment and inclusion manager, East Thames
Price of electricity could double over next 20 years
10 July, 2014
Pipes and pylons operator says failure to invest more in local gas production would leave country 90% dependent on imports
Fall in wages could be 20% more than estimated
10 July, 2014
Average wages in Britain have fallen more than official figures suggest due to shift to self employment
Five tips for handling rent arrears
10 July, 2014
Experts offer their advice on how housing providers can better manage arrears and help residents struggling to pay rent
London landlords jubilant as rents reach '£1 High Club'
07 July, 2014
Delighted central London landlords have seen average weekly rents climb to £1.05 per square foot, meaning only one thing: Payday
Prime Minister grilled over Tory MP Richard Benyon's 'social cleansing'
03 July, 2014
Prime Minister put on the spot as dozens of poor families face eviction after Britain's richest MP took a stake in their homes
Council considers rent cap scheme for private landlords
03 July, 2014
London School of Economics to examine a council's proposals for rent control
Homeless get jobless benefit boost
02 July, 2014
Newly-homeless unemployed people may no longer be stripped of jobless benefits if they stop seeking work while they look for a new place
Bedroom tax: Housing association rent arrears laid bare in the House of Commons
01 July, 2014
Housing associations are facing mounting problems with rent arrears as a direct result of the bedroom tax
Peers round on Lord Freud over bedroom tax
26 June, 2014
Lord Freud withstood a barrage of questions about the bedroom tax in the House of Lords
Link between affordable rents and higher levels of child poverty
26 June, 2014
Affordable rent is linked with higher levels of child poverty, CEX of the Child Poverty Action Group told the CIH conference
'Pickle the bedroom tax' protest to coincide with minister's speech
26 June, 2014
Tenants and campaigners called for the bedroom tax to be 'pickled' outside the Chartered Institute of Housing conference
Child poverty strategy launched
26 June, 2014
Supporting families into work, improving living standards and raising educational attainment are the fundamental aims set out
Tories 'should amend bedroom tax'
25 June, 2014
The Conservative party should not impose the bedroom tax on tenants unless they turn down a suitable alternative offer of accommodation
Housing benefit size criteria
24 June, 2014
Impacts for social sector tenants and options for reform
Evictions on rise as landlords toughen up
13 June, 2014
Survey shows landlords protecting income by dealing with arrears more robustly
Quarterly survey of private registered providers
11 June, 2014
Rent arrears in the English housing association sector fell for the second successive month
Welfare reform puts single people at risk of homelessness
11 June, 2014
Study of risk factors in the north east finds rent arrears, food poverty and crime on the rise. Homelessness will come next
Court costs soar to 150% as eviction cases are on the rise
10 June, 2014
Halton Housing Trust warns customers that they face a significant rise in court costs of up to 150 per cent
Scotland's 'worst performing' council for arrears slammed
10 June, 2014
A council has been issued with a damning report on its rent collection, after a review by the Scottish Housing Regulator
Landlords call for clarity on pay-to-stay rent rules
30 May, 2014
Providers encouraged to charge high-earning tenants more rent
Family of disabled grandchild lose spare bedroom fight
30 May, 2014
The family of a severely disabled teenager from Pembrokeshire have lost their High Court challenge
Council tax hardship payments judgment victory
30 May, 2014
A landmark judgment confirming that Tribunal has unlimited power to overturn decisions by councils which refuse to award DHP
Government scores bedroom tax own goal
30 May, 2014
As most people will know the bedroom tax came into operation in April 2013
Caring through the night
30 May, 2014
The latest challenge to the bedroom tax focuses on overnight carers for disabled children
Bedroom tax pushes households into debt and fear of eviction
29 May, 2014
A third have cut back on food and a quarter have cut back on heating
Generation Rent blasts 1.1 million empty homes as overcrowding rises
29 May, 2014
The OfNS has found a 25% increase in households with six or more people, and a 25% increase in unoccupied homes from 878,000 to 1.1 million
'Bedroom tax' hitting North hard
28 May, 2014
Households in the North of England hit by controversial cuts to housing benefits are going without basic essentials for fear of falling into arrears
Bedroom tax a year on - can the evidence speak for itself?
23 May, 2014
Opinion of Alan Humphreys, chief executive, Grand Union Housing Group
Relief for 'bedroom tax' 'victims'
23 May, 2014
People in Inverclyde hit by financial misery through the 'bedroom tax' will now automatically get relief payments under a new council deal
Four ways to help tenants appeal against bedroom tax
22 May, 2014
By helping tenants in bedroom tax appeals, housing providers can bring more money into communities and minimise arrears
Call for bedroom tax scrap for the abused
22 May, 2014
E-petition calling on the Government's Department for Work and Pensions to exempt victims of domestic violence from the bedroom tax
Bedroom Tax First Tier Tribunal decisions
19 May, 2014
As decisions by the First Tier Tribunal on bedroom tax appeals seem to be coming in thick and fast, here is a list of them
Can Europe provide the answer to London's private rental nightmare?
16 May, 2014
London's PRS is spiralling out of control. Search for solutions to unaffordable rents and substandard properties turns to Europe
'Bedroom tax victimising mentally ill patients'
16 May, 2014
The government's controversial bedroom tax is victimising patients with mental health problems
Ending bedroom tax injustice
16 May, 2014
It looks increasingly likely that the introduction of the bedroom tax will be filed as a regret
Breadline licensees could lose tax credits
16 May, 2014
Publicans currently claiming working tax credits could lose the benefit if their pub is not "gainful" under new Government changes
Pembrokeshire grandparents in 'Bedroom tax' row have their challenge heard in High Court
15 May, 2014
The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) who represented Paul and Susan Rutherford says it could be weeks before a ruling is made
Rent arrears wiped out for Derby mum with disabled son after MP's intervention
12 May, 2014
Rent arrears wiped out for Derby mum with disabled son after MP's intervention
Family of five face eviction from one room bed and breakfast accommodation
12 May, 2014
The family have no cooking facilities, no access to a washing machine and are not allowed to have visitors in the B&B; where Reading Borough Council has placed them
Landlord possession claims at decade high
08 May, 2014
The number of renters at risk of losing their homes is at its highest level for a decade
Keep it quiet, but even right-wing hacks support Miliband's rent reforms
06 May, 2014
Many right-wingers have taken an expectedly unfavourable view of Ed Miliband's new plans to keep rents low
Bedroom tax: the penalty for being disabled
02 May, 2014
Since the government introduced the bedroom tax, we have seen substantial and sustained media coverage
The foaming Tory response to Labour's rental reforms stops any rational debate
02 May, 2014
Baiting Ed Miliband's rental proposals as reds-under-the-beds shows a Tory party afraid of proper political engagement
How would Labour's rent reforms affect tenants and landlords?
02 May, 2014
As Ed Miliband unveils his policy centrepiece on the rental sector, we look at what it will mean for millions of families
Welsh MPs turn guns on UK Government for 'wicked' welfare changes
02 May, 2014
Westminster Hall debate puts so-called bedroom tax and Work Programme under scrutiny
Eviction rate doubles under 'unjust' bedroom tax
02 May, 2014
A council's eviction rate has doubled since the government's controversial bedroom tax came into effect last April
Scottish government given powers to 'offset' bedroom tax
02 May, 2014
Scotland has been given new powers to add more money to a fund that is claimed will offset the cost of the bedroom tax
Liberty granted permission for bedroom tax court challenge
02 May, 2014
Liberty has been given permission to proceed with a judicial review, claiming the policy unfairly affects separated families
Energy bills 'to rise twice as fast as expected' due to inefficient products
01 May, 2014
Household energy bills will rise by £127 by 2020 - £63 more than forecast - because consumers are not buying new energy-efficient appliances
London's working poor are being driven out of private rental sector by welfare reform and rising rents
30 April, 2014
Poorer families are being driven out of the private rented sector in parts of London
Bedroom tax victim turned to 'spare room' cannabis factory to cope with debts
29 April, 2014
A tenant caught out by the bedroom tax allowed one of her spare rooms to be used as a cannabis factory to cover her loss in benefits
Reliance on credit cards could increase council tax bill by 3..%
29 April, 2014
Alarming data about peoples' credit card habits and their reliance on using their plastic for household bills
Universal Credit: Rent arrears form
28 April, 2014
DWP form for applying for rent arrears deductions
Bedroom Tax human rights ruling could pave way for 420,000 to launch similar appeals
24 April, 2014
Spina bifida sufferer Jacqueline Carmichael and 24-hour carer Jayson were told the Coalition's hated charge contravened their human rights
North West economy threatened by rising rents and house prices, NHF warns
24 April, 2014
Workers in the region are struggling to afford rising rents and house prices
Are you borrowing to pay your rent or mortgage?
17 April, 2014
Many feel they have no choice but to borrow in order to pay their rent or mortgage each month
Life of a food bank user: no gas, no cooker, benefits delayed
17 April, 2014
I just met Keith, from Watford. He used to crew a Nimrod in the RAF. Now his most challenging mission is to feed himself on £58.92 a week
Almost four million families could be just one paycheque away from losing their home
14 April, 2014
Millions of working families in the UK could not pay their rent or mortgage for more than a month if they lost their job
Council launches scheme to rent spare rooms to tenants facing homelessness
11 April, 2014
Mansfield District Council has introduced a new initiative to encourage households to rent spare rooms to those at risk of becoming homeless
Croydon Council rent arrears drop by nine per cent
11 April, 2014
Rent arrears for Croydon Council tenants have dropped by more than nine per cent in the last year
Council records sharp drop in rent arrears
08 April, 2014
Croydon Council has seen rent arrears amongst its tenants drop by 9% in the last year
Households facing serious rent arrears fall by a third
08 April, 2014
Tenants struggling with late rent have made significant progress in the last twelve months, according to the latest Tenant Arrears Tracker
Labour mocks Lib Dems as its peers vote to keep bedroom tax
04 April, 2014
Labour questions why only two Lib Dem peers voted against tax during Lords debate, despite Tim Farron's call to oppose it
Time to rethink bedroom tax and offer exemptions to disabled people
04 April, 2014
MPs today urged the government to rethink the bedroom tax and offer exemptions to disabled people
Rent arrears soar for bedroom tax-hit tenants
01 April, 2014
Rent arrears among social housing tenants in Merseyside have soared 35 per cent since the introduction of the bedroom tax
Bedroom tax has failed on every count
28 March, 2014
We now know the policy is barely helping overcrowding and the savings are far less than the government hoped
It's official: the bedroom tax causes misery
28 March, 2014
I don't think the increasingly strained Iain Duncan Smith intends to cause suffering, but that's exactly what his bedroom tax does
Charity reports rise in arrears
28 March, 2014
The number of people approaching Citizens Advice centres for help with social housing rent arrears has risen by 10 per cent in a year
DWP responds to universal credit payment concerns
27 March, 2014
DWP to change process of social landlords applying for 'alternative payment arrangements' under UC for tenants who are not paying their rent
New homes being built to help 'victims of bedroom tax'
27 March, 2014
Twenty-one new homes are set to be built in Merthyr Tydfil next week to help those struggling with the 'Bedroom Tax'
Renters cutting back on heating and eating due to cost of rent
26 March, 2014
Two in five private renters (39%) are cutting back on heating because of the cost of rent, while a third (33%) are skimping on food
"Legacy of recession" remains as Citizens Advice reports 26 per cent rise in house repossession problems during 2013
24 March, 2014
National charity helped with 87,000 social housing rent arrears problems last year
Would independence make Scotland's welfare fairer?
12 March, 2014
Plans to scrap bedroom tax and other welfare reforms are all very well but a future Scottish government will be constrained by finances
Council tenants offered advice on rent arrears
12 March, 2014
Council tenants in Edinburgh falling behind with their rent were urged not to bury their heads in the sand and ignore the consequences of not paying their rent
Freud and IDS stonewalling bedroom tax fund request
11 March, 2014
Lord Freud and Iain Duncan Smith have been stonewalling Scotland's request to add more money to a bedroom tax fund
Third of homeless are tenants thrown out by private landlords
07 March, 2014
Vulnerable tenants thrown out by private landlords and unable to find anywhere else to live accounted for a third of all homelessness in London last year
Landlord's arrears rise by £241,000 during universal credit pilot
05 March, 2014
A pilot of direct payments to 1,000 tenants saw arrears rise by £241,000, with an average debt of £130 per person
Bedroom tax cutting people adrift from their lives
04 March, 2014
Bishop of Swansea and Brecon John Davies will join a protest rally against the tax in Cardiff
Sale of small council homes condemning thousands to bedroom tax
03 March, 2014
Council housing sell-offs forcing vulnerable children into unfit properties in private sector
Household benefit cap and Universal Credit housing costs
03 March, 2014
DWP proposals relating to the new definition of exempt accommodation
Bedroom tax refund delay woe for householders
03 March, 2014
Council chiefs in the North-East say they are struggling to find hundreds of people unlawfully charged the 'bedroom tax' after blunder
West Dunbartonshire Council secures additional funding for struggling tenants
03 March, 2014
West Dunbartonshire Council has secured an extra £500,000 of Discretionary Housing Payments to help residents affected by the bedroom tax
Bedroom tax loophole closes
03 March, 2014
A loophole which allowed thousands of tenants to escape the bedroom tax closes
Empty social homes and rent arrears up in Wales
27 February, 2014
Empty social homes and tenant arrears have increased in Wales, according to the latest social housing figures
Social Housing Vacancies, Lettings and Rent Arrears, 2012-13
26 February, 2014
SDR 31/2014 26 February 2014
UK sees rise in new tenancies and rent costs
25 February, 2014
The number of new tenancies has risen by 15% in the UK in the past year, with rents rising by 8%
Duncan Smith mocks Labour bedroom tax figures
25 February, 2014
More than 21,500 people have now been identified as wrongly paying the bedroom tax according to figures obtained by the Labour Party
Campaigners fail to overturn bedroom tax court ruling
24 February, 2014
A group of people with disabilities has failed to overturn a court ruling which found the bedroom tax is lawful
London landlords earning more than five times the returns of their counterparts in the North East
24 February, 2014
London landlords are raking in more than five times the annual revenue of their counterparts in the North East of England
Court to rule on bedroom tax legality
20 February, 2014
The Court of Appeal is due to rule on whether the bedroom tax is legal when applied to disabled people
DWP reveals nearly 500,000 households affected by bedroom tax
20 February, 2014
The DWP has released statistics breaking down the number of households affected by bedroom tax and the average amount deducted from HB
Rent arrears 'in line with expectations'
20 February, 2014
Nine in 10 landlords have reported levels of rent arrears and voids in line with or better than their expectations
Benefit sanctions figures published
20 February, 2014
JSA payments to claimants who haven't stuck to the rules have been suspended 818,000 times since we introduced new rules in October 2012
'Bedroom Tax' help
19 February, 2014
Nearly 7,000 extra households receive assistance in just one month
Independent Scotland is the only way to scrap bedroom tax for good says Margaret Burgess
19 February, 2014
The only way to scrap the bedroom tax for good is through the powers of an independent Scottish Parliament said Welfare Minister
Average monthly rent to climb above £1,000 this year
18 February, 2014
Average monthly rental costs across Britain are on track to climb above £1,000 this year
West Dunbartonshire Council rent rise to be invested in housing
18 February, 2014
Rents for council tenants in West Dunbartonshire are to rise by 7.63%, which the council states will help fund improvements to housing
Housing benefit 'spare room' rebates for 3,000 in West Midlands
18 February, 2014
At least 3,000 tenants in the West Midlands are set to be eligible for rebates after having benefits wrongly cut because of extra bedrooms
Archbishop Nichols: UK welfare system 'seriously wrong'
18 February, 2014
The UK's welfare system is "seriously wrong" in allowing poorer members of society to remain "in a destitute situation"
People urged to take up social housing as bedroom tax leaves properties empty
18 February, 2014
A local authority is set to discuss encouraging more people into social housing as homes sit empty due to the ravages of the bedroom tax
Local Authorities break the law, taking DLA/PIP into account for DHP allocations
17 February, 2014
Lord Freud and the Department for Work and Pensions have issued advice to Local Authorities suggesting that they break the law
20% rise in number of tenants being evicted from their homes in Wales
17 February, 2014
Landlord possession claims have soared by 20% in the past year
Impact of welfare reform on housing associations
17 February, 2014
Early effects and responses by housing associations to the introduction of welfare reforms
Arrears drop in Passivhaus schemes
13 February, 2014
A landlord claims it has slashed rent arrears close to zero by housing tenants in super energy-efficient Passivhaus homes
Two thirds of households hit by bedroom tax are in debt as anniversary approaches
12 February, 2014
One in seven at risk of eviction despite support from housing associations
Town halls asked to help freeze Council Tax this year
06 February, 2014
Eric Pickles has called on councils to take up the offer of additional central government funding to help freeze Council Tax this year
The minor prophet and the bedroom tax miracle
06 February, 2014
Iain Gray advised his fellow MSPs to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with God after speech in regards to Bedroom Tax
'£40m public money set to be wasted in Wales' due to bedroom tax impact on disabled people
06 February, 2014
More than £40m of public money is set to be wasted in Wales due to the removal of the spare room subsidy from disabled people
Up to 600 homes in Wirral set to receive bedroom tax refunds
05 February, 2014
Up to 600 homes in Wirral could receive refunds of around £1,000 after discovering they should have been exempt from paying the bedroom tax
Is the 'bedroom tax' the new Poll Tax?
04 February, 2014
The withdrawal of the spare room subsidy has definitely gained an enhanced political salience, beyond its arithmetical and social impact
Scotland pledges to meet full cost of bedroom tax
04 February, 2014
Scotland has pledged to meet the full cost of the bedroom tax by finding an extra £15 million for housing benefit support
Benefit cuts leave 70,000 people in council tax arrears, says Labour
04 February, 2014
Around 70,000 people are being pursued by bailiffs for council tax arrears following benefit cuts, the Labour Party has claimed
Ministers branded "utterly clueless" over Bedroom Tax's impact on disabled people
04 February, 2014
Campaigners claim up to 400,000 have to pay the £14-a-week surcharge - but when Tory Employment minister Esther McVey was asked she did not know
City sees drop in number of bedroom tax victims
04 February, 2014
Bristol City Council has reported a drop in the number of tenants hit by the bedroom tax
Bedroom tax will waste £234Million of taxpayers' money if disabled tenants forced to move house
03 February, 2014
The figure is nearly Half the £500million the Government hoped to save this year with the hated rules - ministers estimate around 35,000 claimants will be affected
Freud: Bedroom tax figures 'may indicate people are downsizing''
03 February, 2014
The lower than expected number of people hit by the bedroom tax may be due to people downsizing into smaller properties
Strain for Shoreline over £179k owed in bedroom tax arrears from struggling tenants
03 February, 2014
More than half the Shoreline tenants affected by the so-called bedroom tax are in arrears
Minister Nicola Sturgeon in call over benefit aid cap
03 February, 2014
A further £15m has been found by the Scottish government to help those hit by the so-called "bedroom tax" in the year ahead
U-turn looms over Freud pledge on bedroom tax
31 January, 2014
Peer's plans to exempt vulnerable tenants may derail entire policy
Nearly half of landlords set to raise rents
31 January, 2014
Four in ten landlords will raise their rents in the next year
Social landlords should focus on helping tenants, not boosting profits
31 January, 2014
With residents facing a debt crisis, landlords should get their own homes in order before wheeling and dealing in the city
MSPs call for end of 'bedroom tax'
31 January, 2014
A Holyrood committee has called on the UK government to abolish the spare room subsidy or hand powers to the Scottish Parliament
Government pledges £50m more in aid for benefit claimants hit by bedroom tax
31 January, 2014
The Government today promised more than £50 million extra to help London benefit claimants affected by the so-called "bedroom tax"
More than 600,000 parents facing a salary cut as curbs on child benefit bite
31 January, 2014
More than 600,000 parents affected by the Government's controversial child benefit changes could be hit by an unexpected drop in their salary
Payback time
31 January, 2014
DWP acknowledges that social housing tenants who have been claiming housing benefit for same home since 1996 are exempt from the bedroom tax
Fewer homes funded if councils restrict conversions to affordable rent
30 January, 2014
Councils that seek to restrict the conversion of social homes to affordable rent will see 'fewer homes funded in their area'
Video: 'Bedroom tax' petition evidence session
30 January, 2014
The Welfare Reform Committee hosted a second evidence session on petition PE01496
Council pledges to help hundreds of tenants wrongly hit by bedroom tax
30 January, 2014
Sheffield City Council has pledged to support hundreds of social housing tenants wrongly charged with the controversial bedroom tax
Disabled childrens bedroom tax amendment defeated
30 January, 2014
An amendment to the bedroom tax exempting disabled children from the bedroom tax was defeated in the Lords by 185 votes to 154
Non-domestic rates collected by local councils in England: forecast for 2013 to 2014
30 January, 2014
Details of the forecasts of national non-domestic rates to be collected by local authorities in England
Scots bedroom tax error answers demanded
29 January, 2014
Clarification over how many people in Scotland may have been wrongly hit by the bedroom tax has been demanded by the Scottish Government
Unspent millions in former Social Fund budget prompts call for 'bedroom tax' help
29 January, 2014
Communities and Tackling Poverty Minister Jeff Cuthbert confirmed Discretionary Assistance Fund hasn't spent more than half its budget
164 tenants wrongly charged bedroom tax
29 January, 2014
164 of 1,356 tenants affected by the bedroom tax are due a refund because of a major error by the DWP when they drafted the regulations
Renting in London 'costs twice as much as elsewhere'
28 January, 2014
Figures from Gumtree show the average UK rent is £665, while tenants in London fork out £1,516
UK rents have risen by 8% over the last year
28 January, 2014
Meanwhile, flatsharing among the over-40s is on the increase
Benefit cap 'hits most vulnerable'
28 January, 2014
The Government's so-called "benefit cap" is threatening to cause severe hardship to some of the most vulnerable people in society
Lawyers Granted Judicial Review Against Councils 'Unfair' 'Bedroom Tax' Housing Policy
28 January, 2014
Lawyers acting on behalf of a disabled couple, have been granted permission to bring a judicial review
Bedroom tax builds: HAs must develop smaller homes to win grant share
28 January, 2014
Housing associations are being advised to deliver one and two-bed homes if they want to win a share of the latest affordable housing grant
Explain benefit reform error, Scots minister Burgess demands
28 January, 2014
The Scottish government has demanded to know how many "vulnerable people" in Scotland have incorrectly lost out
Rent increases shrink North South divide
27 January, 2014
Rents drop for tenants in the most expensive regions in Britain, Greater London and the South East
Renting: it's war as desperate tenants face bidding for properties
27 January, 2014
Website Auctionlets goes live this month, amid fears it will push up rental prices even more
Labour's Reynolds slams Govt complacency in face of rent rises
27 January, 2014
Shadow housing minister Emma Reynolds has accused the Government of complacency
Drive for more one and two bedroom homes in HCA prospectus
27 January, 2014
Affordable housing providers will be expected to deliver more small homes to help bedroom tax tenants downsize
StepChange Debt Charity sees rise in people with arrears
24 January, 2014
A debt charity says it has seen a 44% rise in people in Wales with arrears on essential household costs like rent over the last year
Growing need for debt awareness in social housing
24 January, 2014
Opinion piece by John Morris, chief executive, Trident Social Investment Group
Arrears up by £1.7m for north west landlords
23 January, 2014
Rent arrears for 15 housing associations in north west England have risen by £1.7 million over the last year
Regaining possession where tenants are in arrears
20 January, 2014
Expert opinions on best practice for regaining possession in England and Wales where tenants are in arrears
Avoiding rent arrears
17 January, 2014
40% of landlords earn little more than enough to break even each month, meaning just one missed payment can leave them financially vulnerable
Pioneering pair launch a new service for landlords
15 January, 2014
Two entrepreneurs with years of experience of dealing with housing benefits and recovering rent arrears have launched an innovative letting agency for landlords with tenants on benefits
Thousands turning to payday lenders to hide rent or mortgage problems
15 January, 2014
Thousands of Brits are turning to payday lenders to hide problems they are having paying their rent or mortgage, new research has revealed
PRS tenants in severe arrears up while landlords mortgage arrears down
15 January, 2014
The number of households in England and Wales that owe more than two months' rent rose by 3.4 per cent to 67,000 in the fourth quarter of 2013
Why landlords are shunning profitable benefit tenants
13 January, 2014
Benefit claimants are more profitable than many types of tenants, but landlords are turning them away
First council announces bedroom tax refunds since revelation of legal loophole
13 January, 2014
Exeter CC has revealed that "a small of number" of tenants are due bedroom tax refunds after a recent revelation
Tory MP Anne McIntosh joins revolt against bedroom tax
13 January, 2014
One of the North's Conservative MPs yesterday joined the revolt against the 'bedroom tax' - calling for an exemption for rural areas
Which? challenges payday lenders over high missed payment fees
13 January, 2014
Consumer group says borrowers are being exploited by excessive fees and regulator must ensure all charges are fair
Bedroom Tax suicide victim Stephanie Bottrill was exempt from losing her housing benefit
13 January, 2014
Her son, says Iain Duncan Smith has "blood on his hands" - people are calling for the Work and Pensions Secretary to apologise
Liverpool mayor pledges support for tenants hit by bedroom tax error
13 January, 2014
The Mayor of Liverpool has pledged to support residents who have been wrongly hit by the bedroom tax
Housing staff relive eviction shooting
10 January, 2014
Front line housing staff, shot without warning as they tried to evict a tenant, knew practically 'nothing' about him before proceeding, a court heard this week
Early impacts of Welfare Reform on rent arrears
07 January, 2014
Survey on rent arrears and the impact of Welfare Reform on the social housing sector in Scotland
Household finances at breaking point, says Shelter
03 January, 2014
Housing charity says it is seeing a 'stream of cases' of families unable to cope with mounting rent or mortgage payments
Homelessness rises as recession and welfare reforms bite
23 December, 2013
A Cardiff charity reports a 160% increase in the number of people using its night centres while senior council official says the city has experienced a 34% rise
Citizens Advice reports sharp rise in social housing rent arrears cases
23 December, 2013
The number of social housing rent arrears cases reported to Citizens Advice has increased by 13% since the same time last year due to the introduction of the bedroom tax and other welfare cuts
High rents and benefit cuts putting young at risk of homelessness
23 December, 2013
More young people are at risk of homelessness due to high rents, low benefits and a lack of decent housing, homelessness charity Crisis has warned
Rents rise twice as much as earnings
20 December, 2013
Rise in cost of renting in England and Wales over year to November puts pressure on tenants' finances
Rent arrears and threat of homelessness on the rise as economic growth fails to reach social tenants
20 December, 2013
Despite growing confidence in the UK's economic recovery, social housing rent arrears cases reported to Citizens Advice from July to September this year increased
Over 200,000 English households at risk of repossession or eviction
20 December, 2013
One in every 105 households in England is at risk from repossession or eviction, new statistics have revealed
Vulnerable cut off from bedroom tax relief as demand for emergency help triples
19 December, 2013
Just one in ten disabled people hit by tax in parts of Kent get discretionary housing payments
Fewer people expected to rent homes next year
19 December, 2013
Average rents in London are expected to increase by 1pc next year
Councils could be banned from using 'bedroom tax' phrase in move to veto contentious language
19 December, 2013
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles could be given power to put a blue pencil through any language with which he disagrees
Disabled tenants come off worse in bedroom tax DHP lottery
19 December, 2013
Social housing tenants hit by the government's controversial bedroom tax have wildly varying chances of receiving financial help
A third of disabled people refused DHP
19 December, 2013
Nearly a third of disabled people hit by the bedroom tax have been refused discretionary housing payments
Bedroom tax: one-third of disabled applicants refused emergency grants
19 December, 2013
In some councils as few as 14% are given help from fund intended to smooth introduction of bedroom tax
Support for Housing Benefit claimants to meet any rent shortfall
19 December, 2013
Documents to assist local authorities with their support for HB claimants affected by the size criteria for social sector tenants
Letter to claimants affected by removal of the spare room subsidy
19 December, 2013
A suggested letter for local authorities to send to claimants affected by the removal of the spare room subsidy
Homelessness services feel mounting pressure as welfare reform bites
19 December, 2013
UK councils have seen a rise in demand for homelessness services, but there is only so much they can do
Curbs on EU benefits to come into force on 1 January
18 December, 2013
New rules on how long EU jobseekers will have to wait to claim benefits are to be brought in early
Christmas card warns London council tenants 'pay your rent'
18 December, 2013
"Insulting" Christmas cards warning "Don't overindulge this Christmas. Pay your rent!", have been sent out to west London council tenants
Call For 'Bedroom Tax' To Be Scrapped
18 December, 2013
In a pointed report, the Scottish Affairs Committee has called on the government in London to scrap the reforms
Government committee calls for bedroom tax to be abolished
17 December, 2013
The Commons Scottish Affairs Committee has called on the government to abolish the bedroom tax
How to avoid rent arrears
17 December, 2013
A survey of landlords and tenants commissioned by the NLA has found that 40% of landlords earn little more than enough to break even each month
Public sector housing rents set to rise by 5% in April
16 December, 2013
People living in public sector homes in the Isle of Man will see their rent rise by five per cent next year
Multi-million pound electricity trial begins to support tenants in fuel poverty
16 December, 2013
A £5.49 million energy project is set to begin next month to support tenants living in fuel poverty in the borough
Eviction notices surge by 26%
16 December, 2013
The number of eviction warning notices issued to social tenants because of rent arrears has soared by more than a quarter in a year
Rent arrears fastest-growing problem
12 December, 2013
Rent arrears are becoming the fastest-growing debt problem in the UK, according to the Money Advice Trust charity
Debt advice charity reports massive surge in people seeking help with rent arrears
12 December, 2013
Rent arrears are the fastest growing debt problem in the UK
Iain Duncan Smith confronts claims DWP staff given targets to stop benefits
10 December, 2013
Whistleblower says staff warned they would be disciplined unless they increased number of claimants coming off register
Families Facing 'Heat or Eat' Dilemma This Christmas
10 December, 2013
Ten housing providers have united to investigate how changes to the benefits system and Welfare to Work initiatives are affecting their customers
Proposed benefit and pension rates 2014 to 2015
09 December, 2013
A list of the proposed benefit and pension rates for 2014 to 2015
Around 50% of households affected by benefit cap in London
06 December, 2013
A government report has revealed today that 47 per cent of households affected by the benefit cap to October were in London
Concern over rent arrears led to discovery of woman's body at sheltered housing complex
05 December, 2013
The body of an elderly woman went undiscovered for six weeks at a sheltered housing complex
Social tenants Christmas eviction warning
05 December, 2013
A housing association has told its tenants that those who are up to date with their rent will get two 'rent free' weeks this Christmas
Securing rental income through Universal Credit
03 December, 2013
Are landlords doing all they can to make their preferred payment methods attractive to residents?
More borrowing under universal credit scheme
02 December, 2013
New review of pilot projects shows universal credit claimants are resorting to payday lenders, overdrafts and other loans
Experts claim social landlord assets undervalued by £14bn
02 December, 2013
Housing association assets are undervalued by more than £14 billion
Charities Turn 'Bedroom Tax' Attack On PM
02 December, 2013
David Cameron says disabled people who need the extra room are exempt from the subsidy - but organisations claim this is not true
Benefits sanctions a 'ticking timebomb' for the homeless
29 November, 2013
Warnings are growing that the effects of another aspect of welfare reform could be far worse
Councils may be asked to return HRA cash
29 November, 2013
Cash-strapped councils that topped up their ailing general funds with millions of pounds of rent money could be forced to return the cash
Council's 'Feeling the Pain' report shows majority of bedroom tax victims now in arrears
27 November, 2013
Sixty-five percent of Salford's social housing tenants hit by the government's controversial bedroom tax have fallen into arrears
DWP issue guidance on Bedroom Tax in Universal Credit
26 November, 2013
This memo gives guidance on changes introduced by the Housing Benefit and Universal Credit Regulations 2013
Victory in shared care bedroom tax tribunal
22 November, 2013
A disabled man who spends two or three nights a week at his mother's house occupies the property for bedroom tax purposes
Half of bedroom tax victims failing to apply for help
22 November, 2013
Nearly half of Edinburgh's council tenants hit by the bedroom tax have not applied for extra help to pay their rent
Bedroom tax may be axed if review questions effectiveness
22 November, 2013
The controversial 'bedroom tax' could be scrapped if a Coalition-ordered review finds it is not saving any money, a Cabinet Minister has suggested
Council urges bedroom tax hit tenants to apply for DHP
21 November, 2013
Only half of Edinburgh's council tenants affected by the bedroom tax have applied for discretionary housing payments
Only 3% of Welsh bedroom tax tenants able to downsize
21 November, 2013
Just 3 per cent of the 22,000 housing association tenants hit by the bedroom tax in Wales have been able to downsize leaving landlords with £1 million of arrears
Bedroom tax causing 'misery across Wales'
20 November, 2013
Housing chief warns £2m of rent arrears could put 1,000 homes under threat
Wolverhampton MP speaks out against impact of bedroom tax
20 November, 2013
New figures reveal more than 3,000 households in Wolverhampton are being "clobbered" by the measure
Bedroom tax traps Welsh tenants into arrears and misery
20 November, 2013
Wales is hit harder by the bedroom tax than any other part of the UK - with a lack of smaller homes for families
Bedroom tax-driven small property development begins
20 November, 2013
A £6.3 million development of 75 smaller properties designed to tackle the impact of the bedroom tax has begun in Liverpool
Bedroom tax must be kept under review, says RICS president
20 November, 2013
The government must review its welfare reforms to prevent them unfairly penalising people who are unable to move to cheaper accommodation
The kidney patient subject to bedroom tax - even if room is used for dialysis machine
19 November, 2013
Plight of MP's brother raises questions about fairness of controversial welfare reform
Welfare reforms are needed urgently, but the bedroom tax is still unfair
18 November, 2013
Social housing has contributed to the dangerous rise of welfare dependency and it must stop. But not with the bedroom tax
Helping tenants to ensure their rent is paid
18 November, 2013
How through volunteers, partnerships and direct communications Riverside are helping tenants like Robert ensure their rent is paid
Private sector rent arrears 'the lowest' since 2008
15 November, 2013
The number of people who are behind with their rent has fallen to its lowest level for five years
'No evictions' petition is sending out wrong message on rent arrears
14 November, 2013
A 'well-intended' move to cripple the implementation of the bedroom tax by outlawing evictions for the arrears it causes has backfired
Affordable homes facing demolition because of bedroom tax
11 November, 2013
Housing associations say change to benefit rules means tenants cannot afford to rent three-bed maisonettes
Nick Clegg's promise of bedroom tax review is a 'sham,' says Harriet Harman
11 November, 2013
Criticism comes as it emerges evaluation will take two years and will not include public consultation
Bedroom tax leaves properties standing empty, North East MPs claim
11 November, 2013
Tenants are scared to move in to larger properties because of the under-occupation penalty, according to North East MPs
Council plans not to evict bedroom tax tenants unless they turn down offers to move
11 November, 2013
Tenants in arrears as a result of the bedroom tax will not be evicted unless they decline two offers of alternative accommodation
Poll shows support for removal of spare room subsidy
11 November, 2013
New independent research shows there is strong public support for reducing under-occupation and overcrowding in social housing
Landlord fears rent arrears rise under Universal Credit
08 November, 2013
A private sector landlord with more than 700 homes says benefit changes could put his business at risk
RCT Homes in bedroom tax evictions row
08 November, 2013
A Welsh housing association is at loggerheads with a council over the association's refusal to adopt a 'no-evictions' policy for tenants hit by the bedroom tax
Councils fail to spend hardship funds
08 November, 2013
English authorities could be forced to return £26 million to government if they don't start spending
More than a third of landlords struggle to pay their bills when tenants miss payments
08 November, 2013
A survey of landlords and tenants commissioned by the NLA has found that 40 per cent of landlords earn little more than enough to break even each month
Housing minister grilled over bedroom tax
07 November, 2013
A group of cross party MPs, including the shadow housing minister Emma Reynolds, grilled Kris Hopkins on the bedroom tax yesterday
Yet more bedroom tax-linked rent arrears discovered
07 November, 2013
The number of English council households in rent arrears has risen by 21% since the April introduction of the bedroom tax
Labour plans to challenge Lib Dem MPs with bedroom tax vote
06 November, 2013
The party's announcement that it will hold a Commons vote next Tuesday on scrapping the measure is a test of those in Clegg's party
Bedroom tax begins to bite on council house tenants
06 November, 2013
Seven months after welfare reform, two thirds of council tenants affected are behind with rent
Coalition's 'bedroom tax' pushes poorest into debt, research finds
06 November, 2013
The UK Government's 'bedroom tax' puts basic rights at risk and pushes vulnerable people into debt
'Millions' owed to Scottish councils in housing arrears
05 November, 2013
Scottish councils believe they are owed more than £3m in rent arrears brought about by recent changes to housing benefit
Lords debates affordable housing
04 November, 2013
Members of the Lords discussed the availability of affordable housing in the United Kingdom and the impact of the under-occupancy charge
Housing providers braced for 80% rise in arrears
04 November, 2013
The social housing sector is preparing for an 80% rise in rent arrears rates as a consequence of the government's welfare reforms
'Millions' owed to Scottish councils in housing arrears
04 November, 2013
Scottish councils believe they are owed more than £3m in rent arrears brought about by recent changes to housing benefit, according to BBC research
Disabled children now exempt from the 'Bedroom Tax' - DWP Amends its policy
04 November, 2013
The Government has amended its controversial 'under-occupation penalty' scheme, commonly known as the 'bedroom tax.'
Bedroom Tax pensioner killed himself over fears he could not afford his home
04 November, 2013
A pensioner hanged himself after telling pals he was worried about how he would afford the Bedroom Tax
Reforms spark surge in staff costs
01 November, 2013
Study shows providers expect 27% rise in staff costs and 82% rise in arrears
Bedroom tax sparks council rent arrears surge
01 November, 2013
Around three-quarters of all city tenants dragged into the bedroom tax saga are now debt-ridden and behind in their rent
Tenants in rent arrears offered six-month bedroom tax 'holiday'
31 October, 2013
A Welsh housing association is offering tenants a six-month 'holiday' from the bedroom tax, as arrears soar across the country
North Lanarkshire Council claims sharp rise in rent arrears
25 October, 2013
More than 2,000 people in one part of Scotland have got into rent arrears for the first time since changes to housing benefit were made in the spring
Rent arrears up since spare room subsidy abolished
24 October, 2013
Rent arrears owed to housing associations and local authorities rose in the three months after the spare room subsidy was abolished
51% of Welsh housing association tenants pushed into arrears due to bedroom tax
24 October, 2013
The majority of tenants in Wales affected by the bedroom tax in 22 housing associations have been pushed into arrears
10% more housing associations see rises in rent arrears after bedroom tax
23 October, 2013
The number of Scottish housing associations experiencing a rise in rent arrears in the first three months of the bedroom tax has risen by ten percentage
Single man granted tenancy of three bedroom house due to impact of 'bedroom tax'
23 October, 2013
In a recent case, a local housing association brought trespass proceedings against a single man occupying a three bed roomed property
Can't stay, can't go
23 October, 2013
Tenants who are affected by the Bedroom Tax are still facing an impossible choice, according to a new report released by Grand Union Housing
Benefit changes rent arrears amnesty 'would need caution'
21 October, 2013
Any rent arrears amnesty as part of efforts to mitigate changes to the welfare system should be approached with caution
Salmond challenges cameron on bedroom tax
15 October, 2013
ALEX Salmond is to raise the impact of the Coalition's bedroom tax at a meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron this week
Bedroom tax: savings likely to be '£160m less than official projections'
15 October, 2013
Analysis suggesting savings could be £160m less than official projections of £480m dismissed as 'vested interests' by employment minister
A Monmouth MP sees effects of 'bedroom tax'
08 October, 2013
A Welsh Conservative politician says that the under occupancy charge - which Labour calls the "bedroom tax" - does not work as well in Wales
Private tenants in severe rental arrears at two year low
04 October, 2013
Figures released today showed private tenants in severe arrears - two months or more behind on their rent - have fallen sharply to the lowest level in two years
Outlawing bedroom tax evictions will send the wrong messages, says CIH Scotland
02 October, 2013
The proposed Bill to outlaw bedroom tax evictions is well intended but will send all the wrong messages to tenants, according to CIH Scotland
Billions more to be cut from welfare cash before 2020 in Tory pledge for budget surplus
01 October, 2013
George Osborne said surplus would be 'insurance against difficult times ahead'
Payday loans being used to feed desperate families, charity says
01 October, 2013
Christians Against Poverty says some lenders are not even checking whether people are in work and able to pay loans back
Bedroom tax drives £2m arrears increase in Merseyside
01 October, 2013
Rent arrears have increased by £2.2 million in Merseyside in the six months since the introduction of the government's controversial bedroom tax
Is the Conservative party bringing about the end of social housing?
01 October, 2013
This government is forcing housing associations to charge 'affordable rents' that are too pricey
Glasgow judge finds bedroom tax breaches human rights
01 October, 2013
Applying the bedroom tax to a couple who cannot share a room because of one partner's disability is a breach of their human rights
Bedroom tax tribunal victory 'likely to be followed', law firm say
30 September, 2013
Tenants who claim spare rooms have never been used as bedrooms could escape the bedroom tax following a tribunal decision
Salmond under pressure to outlaw bedroom tax evictions
30 September, 2013
Alex Salmond has been challenged to support moves to outlaw bedroom tax evictions amid angry claims he has been exploiting the benefits cut
Bedroom tax guidance panned
27 September, 2013
'Bizarre' government guidelines place onus on landlords not local authorities to define a bedroom
DWP to appeal groundbreaking Fife 'bedroom tax' judgments
27 September, 2013
The UK Government is seeking leave to appeal against landmark rulings exempting tenants from the controversial "bedroom tax"
SFHA Statement: Scottish Labour 'Bedroom Tax' Bill
27 September, 2013
The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA), which has been actively campaigning for months for the repeal of the so-called 'bedroom tax'
Benefit cap successfully in place nationwide
27 September, 2013
The £500 a week benefit cap is in place across the country and a major welfare reform has been successfully delivered
Monitoring poverty and social exclusion in Wales 2013
20 September, 2013
Joseph Rowntree Foundation survey finds thousands in arrears due to so called 'bedroom tax'
At the end of the road
20 September, 2013
The Welsh Government is planning to abolish the mandatory ground for possession commonly known as ground 8 (of schedule 2 of the Housing Act 1988)
One in three 'behind on rent' since housing benefit changes
19 September, 2013
One in three council tenants affected by a recent cut to housing benefit has fallen behind on rent since the policy took effect
'Bedroom tax' marchers takes to the streets
18 September, 2013
Campaigners chanted "axe the bedroom tax" at a protest against the controversial charge held in Bolton town centre
Free school lunch for every child in infant school
18 September, 2013
Nick Clegg announces free school lunch for every child in state-funded infant school and disadvantaged students in further education
Social housing unites in Nottingham to oppose bedroom tax-linked evictions
16 September, 2013
Nottingham's largest social housing providers have agreed to take an anti-eviction policy against people who fall into rent arrears due to the bedroom tax
Landlord eviction of tenants at five-year high
11 September, 2013
The number of tenants who have been evicted from rental properties by their landlords reaches highest level in five years
UN to investigate bedroom tax
30 August, 2013
A United Nations representative is to take part in a meeting to hear how the bedroom tax is affecting the UK's social housing tenants
Bedroom tax could cause Christmas homelessness crisis
30 August, 2013
Landlord repossession claims and court orders issued after the introduction of the tax in April saw double digit rises in the three months to June
CIH backs Welsh Government proposal to scrap Ground 8
30 August, 2013
The Chartered Institute of Housing has backed Welsh government proposals that mandatory possession grounds should be scrapped
Welsh associations call to keep ground 8
30 August, 2013
Removing controversial mandatory eviction powers will 'exacerbate' viability problems caused by welfare reforms, the body representing Welsh housing associations has warned
Motion opposing bedroom tax could be a threat to party leadership, MPs warn
29 August, 2013
Liberal Democrat MPs have warned the party they could face defeat over a motion opposing the bedroom tax tabled for next month's conference
The bedroom tax's impact on one of the UK's hardest hit towns
29 August, 2013
Two-thirds of affected tenants fail to keep up with payments and face years on waiting lists for smaller homes in Hartlepool
North East sees highest increase in demand for foodbanks
29 August, 2013
New figures from Newcastle CAB show a sharp rise in inquiries about foodbanks in the past six months, with an increase of 216%
Why the bedroom tax penalises council tenants in the north
28 August, 2013
Northern tenants are being hit particularly hard because few smaller properties exist and most tenants have nowhere to go
Bedroom Tax costing more than it saves as housing benefit bill soars by £1.5bn
28 August, 2013
Figures from the Commons library show the amount of housing benefit paid to private landlords will rise from £7.9billion to £9.4billion
Weaver Vale housing team sort out money matters
28 August, 2013
WVH Trust's Money Matters team is helping tenants get on top of their finances with advice on a number of problems: debt, budgeting, housing benefit and welfare reform.
Family Mosaic builds less to keep rents low
28 August, 2013
Family Mosaic's surplus rose by 18 per cent to £45 million in 2012/13, but it built fewer homes in an attempt to keep rents at social levels
Pickles to slash 'unfair' council tax charge for extended families
28 August, 2013
Eric Pickles has announced plans to help extended families by abolishing an "unfair" council tax surcharge on annexes and home improvements
'No homelessness' policy protects tenants affected by bedroom tax
27 August, 2013
Residents who fall behind on rent will be guaranteed alternative accommodation under housing association's new policy
Bedroom Tax is postcode lottery as it is revealed residents in some areas avoid levy
27 August, 2013
A survey of local authorities shows that what you pay depends on where you live, with some local authorities using a loophole to exempt tenants with tiny bedrooms
Cambridgeshire councils see rent problems increase after benefit changes
27 August, 2013
The number of people asking for help with rent payments in the last few months has quadrupled in some areas, Cambridgeshire councils' data shows
Bailiffs called in by councils for 1.8m debts, charity warns
22 August, 2013
Local councils have called in bailiffs an "excessive" 1.8m times in the last year to collect debts on their behalf, according to the Money Advice Trust
Bedroom tax putting thousands into debt
20 August, 2013
Thousands of the most deprived people in St Helens are being sent into a vicious spiral of debt and hardship
Gwent tenants owe £190,000 after housing benefit changes
20 August, 2013
Tenants of four Gwent housing associations who were hit by changes to housing benefit now owe more than £190,000 despite previously making the rent,
Housing association pledges to rehome bedroom tax victims
20 August, 2013
A housing association has pledged to rehome anyone who goes into arrears and is evicted due to the bedroom tax
Foodbank demand increase 'shocking', says Bradford charity boss
19 August, 2013
The number of hard-pressed people seeking help from foodbanks has risen 78 per cent in the last six months
Boomerang Generation: the young adults living back with parents
19 August, 2013
One man's struggle to lead an independent life has been thwarted by high rents and hefty bills, like thousands of others
Bedroom tax putting thousands into debt
19 August, 2013
Thousands of the most deprived people in St Helens are being sent into a vicious spiral of debt and hardship by the government's controversial "bedroom tax"
Bolton at Home becomes first association in country to make 'no homelessness' pledge over 'bedroom tax'
19 August, 2013
Bolton at Home has become the first housing association in the country to introduce a "no homelessness" policy
Housing staff 'may be target of bedroom tax protests'
19 August, 2013
Staff at a housing association have been warned against wearing their uniforms outside working hours for fear of being attacked by anti-bedroom tax protesters
Benefit cap - final stage starts
12 August, 2013
The benefit cap started in the final council areas on 12 August 2013 and will be completed nationally by the end of September
Salford's highest rent arrears tenant loses home
08 August, 2013
A social landlord has secured a possession order against a tenant with the highest rent arrears in Salford
Evictions loom as social landlord reports 86% arrears rise since bedroom tax
07 August, 2013
A Northumberland social landlord has warned that evictions might be on the cards after seeing its rent arrears shoot up by 86% since the introduction of the bedroom tax
Bedroom tax: Huge rise in tenants in arrears
07 August, 2013
The number of social housing tenants plunging into rent arrears in the Scottish capital soared in the two months following the introduction of the bedroom tax
More than half of Britons say housing costs limit spending
02 August, 2013
More than half (53%) of people in Britain say they are limited in their spending as a result of their housing costs. According to the CIH
Regulator launches survey to examine early impact of Welfare Reform
01 August, 2013
The Scottish Housing Regulator has launched a short survey of all social landlords to gather information on the early impact of Welfare Reform on the payment of rent
Rent Payment and Collection Under Universal Credit
31 July, 2013
CIH Scotland practical guidance for Scottish social landlords on rent payment and collection under Universal Credit
Bristol City Council may relax rules on tenants in rent arrears
29 July, 2013
Council tenants in arrears in Bristol could be allowed to move home after the council said it may relax its regulations on those who owe rent
No bedroom tax evictions, TUC leaders demand
26 July, 2013
TUC leaders in Manchester have urged the city council not to evict any tenants who fall into arrears as a result of the bedroom tax
Half of all adults are concerned with debt
26 July, 2013
Personal debt concerns around a half of all UK adults, according to recent research
LIN Member Reprot July 2013 - Local Authority Led Universal Credit Pilots: A summary of early learning from the pilots
25 July, 2013
DWP Report
Government must change the rules on night shelter housing benefit claims, says Salford mayor
24 July, 2013
The Mayor of Salford has called on the Government to support homeless people by scrapping changes to housing benefit rules
The sector needs a new vision to mitigate risk
24 July, 2013
From the introduction of Universal Credit to the decline in government funding, less reliable income streams are becoming more critical
MPs call for rural bedroom tax exemption
24 July, 2013
The bedroom tax should be scrapped in smaller villages to prevent under-occupying tenants being forced out of the countryside
Asylum seekers 'evicted for rent arrears' after failures by G4S contractors
22 July, 2013
Three women alleged to have been turned out of their homes because firms working for G4S had failed to pay rent
Rent payment and collection under universal credit - guidance for landlords
22 July, 2013
CIH Report
Large turnout for food bank plan for town
19 July, 2013
Organisations and members of the public turned out in force to hear about a bid to establish an emergency food bank in Whitby to feed the town's poor
Rent 'unaffordable' for low-income families in third of UK
15 July, 2013
A third of Britain is effectively off-limits to lower-income working families because private rents are unaffordable
Council slammed by Ombudsman after failing homeless people
12 July, 2013
Bristol City Council has been failing in its legal duty to provide homeless people with the chance to appeal against its decisions not to house them
Homelessness applicants denied right to appeal
12 July, 2013
The local government watchdog has criticised a council for denying people the chance to appeal against decisions not to house them
Councils face £25m loss through bedroom tax
09 July, 2013
Local authorities saw rent arrears in Scotland increase by £2 million during April, compared with the same period last year
Tenant Arrears Tracker - July 2013
08 July, 2013
Nearly 100,000 private tenants are now more than two months behind on their rent, according to figures published by LSL property services
Bedroom tax's 'appalling aftermath' behind massive rise in rent arrears
08 July, 2013
The Scottish government has slammed the coalition's welfare reforms, as 75% of Scotland's councils report that the bedroom tax is directly responsible for a massive increase in rent arrears
Rent arrears jump by £2m after introduction of 'bedroom tax'
08 July, 2013
Social housing rent arrears increased to £2m during April, compared with the same month in 2012, following cuts to housing benefit
Bedroom tax sparks surge in rent arrears
08 July, 2013
Six thousand households in housing association properties in Merseyside fell behind on rent payments for the first time within weeks of the bedroom tax coming into force
Rogue landlords face £3,000 fines
05 July, 2013
Private landlords who rent homes to illegal immigrants could be fined up to £3,000 per individual, under government proposals published yesterday
Government urged to act as food poverty hits 18% of UK
03 July, 2013
Charities last night urged the Government to act over the millions of tonnes of food wasted each year
Northumberland housing firm sees arrears soar as bedroom tax bites Northumberland housing firm sees arrears soar as bedroom tax bites
03 July, 2013
A Housing organisation in Northumberland has reported a massive increase in tenants falling behind with their rent since the introduction of the bedroom tax
Food poverty children facing hungry holidays
03 July, 2013
One in five parents in the UK is struggling to feed their children - skipping meals and relying on handouts from friends and family
Benefit changes 'causing chaos and saving no money'
02 July, 2013
Rent arrears are soaring in many areas and some properties are being left empty because tenants cannot afford to move in as a result of cuts to housing benefit
Direct Payment of Universal Credit to Landlords Provides Greatest Protection Against Arrears
02 July, 2013
The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has welcomed the announcement
Northumberland housing firm sees arrears soar as bedroom tax bites
02 July, 2013
A housing organisation in Northumberland has reported an 86% rise in rent arrears since the introduction of the bedroom tax
Households in arrears after council tax benefit cuts
02 July, 2013
Thousands of low income families in Cornwall have gone into council tax arrears after benefit cuts
£12 million in discretionary housing payments unused by local authorities
01 July, 2013
Local authorities failed to spend more than £12 million last year that was earmarked by the government for families struggling to pay rent
Social landlords handed new formula for rents
26 June, 2013
Social landlords will be able to increase rents by the consumer price index of inflation plus 1 per cent for up to 10 years
Poverty and problematic debt: what can social housing providers do?
25 June, 2013
The current economic situation and planned welfare reform have led to concerns over a potential increase in problematic debt among social housing residents
Majority of social landlords fearing explosion in rent arrears
25 June, 2013
Three quarters of the UK's social housing landlords fear an explosion in rental arrears and void properties
Bedroom tax debt mounts
21 June, 2013
As housing providers across Britain scrabble to get to grips with the bedroom tax, Inside Housing asks a focus group of 10 social landlords how painful it has been so far
Lenders call to keep ground 8
21 June, 2013
Organisations representing lenders and housing associations in Wales are opposing government proposals to abolish a mandatory eviction power
Council considers reclassifying bedrooms
19 June, 2013
A Hertfordshire council is considering reclassifying small bedrooms in at least 100 homes to help tenants avoid the bedroom tax
Anti social residents kept off council waiting list
19 June, 2013
Slough Council may bar people who have behaved anti-socially or are 'not financially responsible' from its housing waiting list until they 'change their ways'
Mark Prisk teams up with Church and defends bedroom tax
17 June, 2013
Housing minister Mark Prisk last week joined with representatives from churches and housing organisations for the "Mobilising the Church" conference in Bradford
Bedroom Tax - heads in the sand?
17 June, 2013
Funny how you can stomach a rotten meal if you keep telling yourself it's not actually that bad
UK rents rise again in May
17 June, 2013
The advertised rent for properties in the UK rose by 0.45% in May, reaching an average of £970 per month
The poor are still paying more for basic utilities and financial services
17 June, 2013
Payment structures and price plans in utilities and financial services continue to inflict higher costs on the poorest in society
Welsh minister lobbies Freud over welfare reform
17 June, 2013
The number of people asking for emergency help with their rent has risen by more than 800 per cent in one area of Wales
Patch work: Solving the rent equation
12 June, 2013
New research by LIN has found a direct link between arrears and the number of staff employed to collect rent. But even with smaller 'patch' sizes, housing officers are struggling to keep tenant debt under control
36 councils call on government to abolish bedroom tax
12 June, 2013
Councillors representing 36 local authorities have urged the government to abolish its controversial bedroom tax policy
Welfare reform to 'push up' homelessness in Wales
11 June, 2013
The UK government's welfare reforms are likely to increase homelessness in Wales
Tenants struggling to pay the 'bedroom tax' fall £22,500 behind in rents in just 8 weeks
10 June, 2013
Just half of all Cambridge council tax tenants affected by the 'bedroom tax' are paying the extra bills - running up combined arrears of £22,500 in just eight weeks
Council convenes bedroom tax summit
06 June, 2013
Thirty councils are expected to come together at a summit on Friday to discuss how to help tenants faced with bedroom tax cuts
Bedroom Tax: Early Impacts
06 June, 2013
The UK government said the changes "bedroom tax" would total £50m in Scotland this year. But the SFHA said only £10m had been made available to help tenants
People with electric heating 'to pay £282 more' a year
06 June, 2013
Millions of people who use electricity to heat their homes may have to pay £282 more a year by 2020, it is being claimed
England's spare bedroom owners sitting on £69 billion goldmine
06 June, 2013
England's spare bedrooms could generate £5.8 billion a month if homeowners rented them out, according to easyroommate.co.uk
Tory MP: Food poverty is growing, food banks are not the answer
06 June, 2013
Laura Sandys says the government needs to tackle supermarket dominance and get a grip on food policy if it is to address the UK's food crisis
Bedroom tax plunges thousands of Greater Manchester residents into debt hell
04 June, 2013
Many tenants who had their housing payments cut on April 1 are already falling behind with rent, with one housing association saying up to 70 per cent are affected
NHF: Lack of affordable housing destroying economic recovery
31 May, 2013
Sky-rocketing rents and house prices are stifling local businesses and making it difficult for them to recruit staff
Quarter of poor families struggle with housing costs
20 May, 2013
One in four low-to-middle income households are spending more than 35 per cent of their income on housing
Calls over payday loans to charity double
08 May, 2013
The number of people seeking a charity's help with payday loans has doubled in a year
How housing providers are beating the bedroom tax
03 May, 2013
Faced with a huge increase in arrears as a result of the under-occupation penalty, some housing providers have taken major steps to protect their residents and themselves
Universal Credit: Landlords to receive direct payments after two months of arrears
01 May, 2013
Housing benefit payments will be sent directly to landlords after tenants have gone into two months of arrears during the Universal Credit pathfinders
'Universal Credit to create average monthly rent arrears of £180'
29 April, 2013
The government's shake-up of the benefits system, Universal Credit will create average monthly rent arrears of £180, according to a law firm
Rights law is an asset
26 April, 2013
Without article 8, those in bedroom tax disputes will have an uphill struggle, according to Giles Peaker, solicitor at Anthony Gold
Housing association re-designates size of properties to help tenants hit by bedroom tax
23 April, 2013
A housing association has re-designated the size of some of its properties in an attempt to help tenants hit by the bedroom tax
Arrears fall while rents rise
22 April, 2013
Private rent arrears are lower in most parts of the UK than they were a year ago, while rent levels have risen
Bedroom tax protestors hit councillors with 'eviction notices'
22 April, 2013
Bedroom tax protestors have hit the homes of Poole councillors with 'eviction notices' and police tape
Rising costs and falling wages squeeze life at home
22 April, 2013
The deterioration in household finances sped up last month as rising living costs and falling income continued to take their toll on cash reserves
Buy to Let Index
19 April, 2013
Rents 4.2% higher than a year ago according to the latest Buy-to-Let Index from LSL Property Services
Bedroom tax protestors target Lord Freud's house
18 April, 2013
Around 200 UK Uncut and Occupy London activists held a bedroom tax protest outside the London home of welfare reform minister Lord Freud
Rent control is not the answer
18 April, 2013
Richard Blanco, National Landlords Association explains why the UK must not return to Rent Control
Welfare reform: where now for social housing?
18 April, 2013
Tim Brown has advice for housing organisations preparing to manage fallout from the bewildering array of changes to benefits
Bedroom tax will empty homes and end up costing the taxpayer more, say housing providers
18 April, 2013
Housing providers have warned the UK Government of the damaging effects of welfare changes
Half of privately owned homes are 'under-occupied'
18 April, 2013
Research from Naionwide shows 49% of owned homes have two or more spare bedrooms, while in the private rental sector only 16% do
Labour MPs stage bedroom tax protest outside Chequers
11 April, 2013
Three Labour MPs have staged a bedroom tax protest outside the gates of Chequers, the Prime Minister's palatial country home
Housing bodies slate bedroom tax appeals
11 April, 2013
Housing bodies have warned mass appeals against the bedroom tax are unlikely to work and could lead to strong cases not being heard as quickly
Figures from Shelter reveal millions are one payday away from not being able to pay their mortgage or rent
11 April, 2013
More than eight million people are one payday away from not being able to pay for their mortgage or rent
Things are looking up: Arrears are down!
05 April, 2013
There's good news for landlords and tenants alike with rent arrears at their lowest level since March 2025 according to NLA
PRS tenants in severe arrears rises
05 April, 2013
The number of tenants in the private rented sector in severe arrrears went up by nearly 5 per cent in the first quarter of this year, says LSL
Chancellor George Osborne to defend benefits changes
03 April, 2013
Chancellor George Osborne is to defend benefits and tax changes, saying "this month we will make work pay"
Benefit changes devastating - Welsh minister Huw Lewis
03 April, 2013
Huw Lewis believes that people will lose their homes because of the latest reforms
The bedroom tax's authors were either careless or cruel - it must be fought
03 April, 2013
Campaigners against the bedroom tax will be responding with similar inflexibility to the government
Thousands of families 'facing debt nightmare over the bedroom tax'
03 April, 2013
Town hall chiefs have warned that thousands of families across Greater Manchester could sink into debt as the bedroom tax kicks in this week
Government axes homeless advisors
28 March, 2013
Councils raise concerns over losing vital support as rough sleeping rises
Fast-track possessions to rise
28 March, 2013
Housing associations will increasingly use 'fast-track' possession notices to evict tenants who fall behind with rent payments
Draconian bedroom tax will cause severe hardship
27 March, 2013
A housing chief has slammed the government's bedroom tax as a draconian policy
4 out of 10 families cut back on food to stay in their homes
27 March, 2013
4 out of 10 families with children have cut down on what they spend on food to help pay for their housing costs in the past year
Council hits out: bedroom tax will strike the most vulnerable
27 March, 2013
A council has claimed that government's bedroom tax will hit families in low paid job, disabled occupants and children living in poverty particularly hard
Plan to scrap eviction power
22 March, 2013
The Welsh Gov is planning a forthcoming white paper to scrap ground 8 possession law which social landlords may use to combat arrears caused by welfare reforms
Council: no tenant to be evicted over bedroom tax
18 March, 2013
A council has declared that none of its social tenants will be evicted if they cannot afford to pay the government's forthcoming bedroom tax
Eviction fears over universal credit housing changes
18 March, 2013
The government says it'll empower tenants, but there's growing concern that changes to the way housing benefit works could lead to more evictions
Over a quarter of private renters have faced a rent increase in the last year
14 March, 2013
26% of private sector renters have faced a rent increase in the last year - and almost two thirds are struggling or falling behind with their payments
Impact of rising rents on family life revealed
14 March, 2013
Almost two thirds of renters are struggling or falling behind with their rent, according to a new survey by Shelter
Call for compulsory register of private landlords
26 February, 2013
Labour councillors in Westminster are calling for the establishment of a compulsory register of private landlords after new figures revealed poor practice in the sector
Back to the future for housing reward and incentive schemes
08 February, 2013
Written off in the last decade, social landlords should look again at prizes and incentives to manage welfare reform
Nudge, nudge: Orbit reward scheme cuts rent arrears by 500k
29 January, 2013
Orbit Heart of England says its resident reward scheme, ProPoints, has helped reduce rent arrears by around half a million pounds
Life sentence for tenant who beheaded landlord in rent row
29 January, 2013
A tenant who beheaded his landlord during a dispute over rent has been given a minimum sentence of 22 years
Set in place solid foundations - Then tackle the myriad of welfare reforms
28 January, 2013
LIN complimentary report for landlords
Freud: Direct payments will not reduce incomes
28 January, 2013
Lord David Freud said he does not expect landlords to 'suffer sudden losses of income' as a result of direct payment of benefit to tenants
Cleaning up the bailiff industry
25 January, 2013
Vulnerable people will be protected from aggressive bailiffs but businesses will still be able to collect debts fairly under new laws to clean up the industry
Rent arrears to rise 51% under welfare reforms
24 January, 2013
Housing associations expect their rent arrears to increase by more than half as a result of the government's welfare reforms
Rent arrears could rocket over 50% under new welfare plans
24 January, 2013
A million people living in social housing could struggle with their rent and end up in debt as a result of the Government's welfare shakeup, warns the NHF
Evictions warning over housing benefit reforms
24 January, 2013
Changes to housing benefit later this year could lead to a rise in evictions, a key housing body has warned
Millions to struggle with rents under welfare reforms
24 January, 2013
A million people living in social housing could struggle with their rent and end up in debt as a result of the Government's welfare shakeup
Christmas causes missed rent, says LSL
18 January, 2013
Rent arrears hit their highest level for nearly a year in December as Christmas took its toll on tenants' finances
Over a third of landlords to increase rents this year
14 January, 2013
Over a third of the UK's landlords are planning on raising their rents this year, and 24% will raise them by more than 3% - 0.3% above the rate of inflation
Housing costs push tenants and homeowners towards payday loans
07 January, 2013
Research for housing charity Shelter shows 1.4 million people in the UK risk losing homes after falling behind with payments
Millions behind with rent and mortgage payments
04 January, 2013
Millions of households are struggling to maintain rent and mortgage payments in the face of the government's austerity measure
Tenant arrears fall by 16%
04 January, 2013
It's good news for landlords as the number of tenants in severe arrears has fallen for the first time in over a year
Number of homeless families in B&Bs; on the rise
24 December, 2012
Official figure doubled from 1,230 to 2,460 in London between 2025 and 2011, and rose again in first six months of 2012
Moat splits resident services into three tiers to influence tenant behaviour
04 December, 2012
Moat residents who are in rental arrears will no longer qualify for a cosmetic repairs service from February
The Financial Implications of Welfare Reform for Social Housing Landlords
04 December, 2012
The viability of dozens of housing associations is at risk from the financial impact of welfare reform - report from PHHS
State-owned bank subsidiary places benefit restrictions on buy-to-let landlords
21 November, 2012
Why has the government failed to take action to prevent lenders such as Lloyds-owned BM Solutions exacerbating our housing crisis?
Repossessions fall in third quarter and arrears remain stable
09 November, 2012
The number of mortgage possessions fell again in the third quarter of 2012, according to data released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders
£5.67: the value of £1 spent on confidence and skills for tenants
08 November, 2012
With the Social Value Act coming into force next year, housing associations are fighting to prove their financial worth
Six tips for landlords to reduce void rental periods
07 November, 2012
Welfare reform will lead to repossessions and properties being abandoned by tenants. Here's how to get it back into use quickly
The cost of running a home
06 November, 2012
A guide from Wolverhampton Homes which aims to give an idea of those costs that tenants will have to budget for when running their own home
East Midlands 'faces highest private sector rent rise'
22 October, 2012
The East Midlands will see the highest rise in private sector housing rents in England over the next eight years, a housing forecast suggests
Rent increases to slow on the back of low inflation
17 October, 2012
Social housing tenants are likely to see lower rent increases next year after the Treasury released inflation figures
LIN Member Report September 2012 - Case Study - Helping Landlords to prepare for Welfare Reform
13 September, 2012
This LIN member report is written by Claire Turner and Peter Hall
Tower blocks mooted for London borough’s B&B; crisis
07 September, 2012
A London council says the pressure on temporary accommodation in the borough is so bad that it may look at moving people to cheaper areas or start allocating flats in tower blocks to families
50% PRS landlords experience arrears
29 August, 2012
Almost half of private landlords have experienced rent arrears in the last year, according to a survey.
Reader's response: questioning the reward society
24 August, 2012
Rewards have failed to instigate behavioural change in the banking sector, so why should social housing be any different?
Landlords pay tenants to open 'jam jar' accounts
24 August, 2012
Housing associations are paying tenants to open credit union accounts to protect their rental income from forthcoming welfare reforms.By encouraging tenants to open 'jam jar' accounts the organisations hope to ease the impact of the universal credit, which will be phased in from October 2013.
Preventing the poverty premium - Lottery invests over £31m
23 August, 2012
Money-saving expert Martin Lewis, National Housing Federation and Citizens Advice are backing a multi-million pound Big Lottery Fund initiative aimed at preventing thousands of the most vulnerable people living in social housing across England from falling into a spiral of debt
Review of the barriers to institutional investment in private rented homes
23 August, 2012
Montague report
Your Homes Newcastle Take A Dramatic Approach To Tenant Arrears
20 August, 2012
Your Homes Newcastle has taken an innovative approach to arrears recovery as part of their ongoing staff development
Scottish landlords braced for £12m hit
17 August, 2012
Rent arrears in Scotland are likely to soar by 50 per cent to £36 million because of welfare reforms imposed by the UK government, a new report warns
Social landlord possession claims up 8% as recession takes hold
16 August, 2012
Possession claims by social landlords leapt by 8% in the first quarter of the year with rent arrears behind the overwhelmingly majority of cases
Universal credit penalties 'will increase debt'
15 August, 2012
Penalties for benefit recipients who run up debts - including rent arrears - are too high and will lead to hardship and a cycle of debt, a homelessness group has warned
Private tenants see eviction orders soar
14 August, 2012
New figures show there has been a 70% rise in court orders to evict private tenants over the past three years.
Private sector rents up 4% in a year with further hikes predicted - RICS
13 August, 2012
The cost of renting a home in the private sector has risen by more than 4% in the last year as would-be buyers continue to find themselves locked out of home-ownership
Housing benefit: 'Homes will have to be handed to the private sector'
09 August, 2012
Notting Hill Housing faces an end to 700 tenancies when the housing benefit cap hits London households next year
Tenants get mobile rent payment app
03 August, 2012
Raglan housing association has introduced a smartphone rent payment application for tenants on the move
Universal Credit: Confusion over who informs DWP of rent changes
02 August, 2012
Housing Associations are seeking clarity over who will inform the DWP about annual rent increases under Universal Credit
Should we return to intensive housing management?
02 August, 2012
Reform of the social housing system means landlords must take advantage of new opportunities to meet tenants' needs
New Law May Not Prevent Rise in Evictions
02 August, 2012
SFHA commenting on the introduction of new laws from the Scottish Government to try to prevent evictions in the social rented sector
Sustain: a longitudinal study of housing wellbeing in the private rented sector
01 August, 2012
Crisis Interim report 2012
Launch of final round of funding for private rented sector schemes
01 August, 2012
Crisis is inviting final bids for funding under a £10.8 million scheme to help homeless people secure private rented accommodation (closing date 17.9.12)
Housing Scotland Act to protect tenants from eviction
01 August, 2012
A law which makes it harder for councils and housing associations to evict tenants for failing to pay their rent has come into force
Number of tenants in arrears goes up, says research
30 July, 2012
The number of tenants falling into rental arrears has risen, according to new research
Editor's blog: welfare reform could push vulnerable families into debt
30 July, 2012
As a doorstep lender reports a 17% rise in profits, can landlords prevent tenants resorting to creditors to plug the gap?
Social Housing Stock and Rents, as at 31 March 2012
30 July, 2012
Statistical Release based on information collected annually from all Welsh social landlords - information on the amount and type of stock as at 31.3.12
Private sector rental arrears rising
27 July, 2012
Rental arrears on the rise: Landlords and tenants must work together, says the NLA
The Big Squeeze - Winners and losers
24 July, 2012
Britain's household debt 'at highest levels since 1980s' according to new report
UK's smallest private landlords struggling with voids and arrears
24 July, 2012
The UK's smallest private landlords - those renting out one property - are struggling as they feel the impact of voids and rent arrears
LIN Member Report July 2012 - Changes to the local housing allowance system: its effects on tenants and landlords
13 July, 2012
This LIN member report is written by Neil Merrick
Most social tenants fall below acceptable income
11 July, 2012
More than 90% of households in social housing in England have an income level below that needed to maintain a socially acceptable standard of living
Paying the rent? There should be an app for that
10 July, 2012
An 'app club' will help share the cost and risk of developing a mobile application helping tenants pay rent and report repairs
Fears benefit reform will lead to surge in bailiffs recovering debts
05 July, 2012
Former housing minister warns the Gov's planned £500m cut in council tax benefit is expected to prompt a surge in bailiffs recovering council tax debts
Mapped: how high rents are pricing young workers out of London
05 July, 2012
An interactive map designed by London Assembly member Darren Johnson exposes just how difficult it is for workers in the capital to meet housing costs
Over 100,000 private tenants now in severe arrears
03 July, 2012
Over 100,000 privately renting tenants are now in severe arrears with their payments, according to new figures
More tenants in financial trouble as rental hardships hit home
03 July, 2012
More than 100,000 tenants in England and Wales owe more than two months' rent, according to latest figures
Private rented funding formula revealed
29 June, 2012
An influential government-commissioned review is set to recommend sweeping changes to planning and funding rules to favour the private rented sector over affordable homes
New banking concept to protect rents
29 June, 2012
Gentoo is in talks with credit unions about setting up 'jam jar accounts' to protect its income stream
Homelessness and B&B; figures shoot up
15 June, 2012
Homelessness applications have jumped up 16% from last year and use of bed and breakfast has risen by 44% according to CLG figures
London rents 82% higher than rest of UK
15 June, 2012
The average cost of renting a home in Greater London is 82% more expensive than the rest of the UK
LIN Member Report June 2012 - More money to spare: How local authorities are still failing to award discretionary housing payments
14 June, 2012
LIN June member report by Neil Merrick which looks at the DHP fund, which is one measure, that could help offset the impact of the Welfare Reforms
High Income Social Tenants: Pay to Stay consultation
13 June, 2012
This consultation proposes to introduce a 'Pay to Stay' scheme whereby L/Ls could charge a fair rent to tenants on high incomes. Closing date 12 Sep 2012
Should rent charged be linked to the services tenants choose to use?
01 June, 2012
Darrin Gamble asks why housing associations don't just charge their customers for the services they need and use
£9 million in unpaid rent written off by Leeds City Council
31 May, 2012
Leeds City Council has written off nearly £9 million of its tenants unpaid rent arrears in the past five years
New Which? research exposes payday loan failings
18 May, 2012
Struggling consumers in payday loan debt trap
Private rents rise again
18 May, 2012
Private rents in England and Wales rose by 0.5% in April, according to letting agency group LSL Property Services
The woman who lives in a shed: how London landlords are cashing in
10 May, 2012
Council finds people living in everything from massively overcrowded houses to a walk-in freezer - and the problem is getting worse
Londoners 'spending 71% of income on rent'
10 May, 2012
Londoners are spending an average of 71% of their take-home income on rent - nearly double the UK average
Politicians' negative perceptions of payday loans 'not shared by customers' - research
01 May, 2012
The Consumer Finance Association (CFA) believes policy-makers 'misunderstand' the value of payday loans to the people who use them - following major research
Fears welfare reforms will increase fast-track evictions
30 April, 2012
Landlords will fast-track possession claims using ‘draconian’ legal measures to defend their businesses against the impact of welfare reform
Is market rental really core business for a housing charity?
13 April, 2012
Matthew Fox, CEX, Viridian Housing, explains the association's move into market rental
Broadway quits debt advice scheme
05 April, 2012
A homelessness charity has pulled out of providing debt advice services for vulnerable people in London after changes to funding conditions
Troubled Families: Top 10 areas are on board as Government is ready to go
29 March, 2012
The 10 LA's with the largest number of troubled families have agreed to sign up to the Gov's scheme to turn around 120,000 problem households by 2015
Experian plans to extend rent record checks to housing associations
29 March, 2012
Private landlords signed up to Experian's new 'Rental Exchange' product could soon be allowed to check out prospective tenants' rent records
Housing associations bolster rent arrears teams ahead of benefit changes
19 March, 2012
Housing associations are looking to bolster their rent arrears teams ahead of the Government changes to the benefits system, according to research by Badenoch & Clark
Landlord's arrears fears over monthly payment of Universal Credit
16 March, 2012
A HA has spent thousands of pounds on debt advice and targeted campaigns to help tenants pay their rent and sustain their tenancies ahead of UC
Private renters owe more in unpaid rent than social sector tenants
15 March, 2012
Tenants in rent arrears living in private rented accommodation appear to have the most debt problems owing more in average than tenants in the social sector
Landlord sees £4,000 payments after rent warnings
14 March, 2012
Brent Housing Partnership saw tenants in rent arrears pay an immediate sum of £4,371 following a door knocking exercise
Half our tenants behind with rent, says housing association
14 March, 2012
A housing association in the North West says half its 2,900 tenants are behind with their rent
Private tenancy evictions up by 17%
05 March, 2012
Analysis of county court possession order claims shows an increase from 12,500 to almost 15,000 in the three years to 2011
Plot to strip landlords of ASB injunction
02 March, 2012
A government minister has ruled out retaining ASB injunctions for social landlords
Warning over right to buy risk
01 March, 2012
A high proportion of homeowners who were bailed out by the government's mortgage rescue scheme in the north of England bought their homes under the right to buy
When shared ownership goes sour
13 February, 2012
Shared ownership is sold as the answer for those desperate for a foot on the housing ladder. But, as one London couple found, it can become a trap if circumstances change
English Housing Survey: Headline Report 2025-11
09 February, 2012
The Department for Communities and Local Government English Housing Survey Headline Report 2025-11
Subletting in some London boroughs 'as high as 10% of tenancies'
07 February, 2012
Subletting in some London boroughs is as high as 10% of tenancies according to credit experts Experian
London councillor who sublet her social home gets prison sentence
07 February, 2012
An east London councillor faces the sack after being sentenced to 16 weeks in jail for housing benefit fraud
Tenants face ASB check for social housing allocations
06 February, 2012
Previous convictions of ASB will be taken into account in the allocation of social housing if new proposals from the Scottish Government go ahead
Rents, rent differentials and service charges for private registered providers 2012-13
03 February, 2012
The regulatory framework for social housing in England covers standards that the regulator expects registered providers of social housing to follow
Credit Unions offer an affordable alternative to pay day loans
27 January, 2012
Welsh Government Minister highlights the role credit unions can play as an alternative to pay day and other instant loan companies
Housing association evictions nearly halved in four years - Shelter
24 January, 2012
Evictions by RSLs across Scotland have continued to fall and the numbers of tenants in arrears is down over the last year, according to Shelter Scotland
Private landlords dismiss Cameron rent claim
23 January, 2012
The NLA has dismissed David Cameron's claim that rents are falling in the sector as a result of the coalition government's welfare reforms
Available rented housing cuts in your area: download the data
23 January, 2012
The cuts to HB will leave many people searching for cheaper places to stay. Have a look at the impact of this through the country by downloading this data
Impact of Christmas spending drives up rental arrears, with 10.7% of all rent late or unpaid in December - figures
20 January, 2012
Private sector rents fell across England & Wales by 0.8% in December to £711pm for a second successive month, according to LSL Property Services
Council approves rent rise of almost 10 per cent
20 January, 2012
Rotherham Council has approved a recommendation for an inflation-busting rent rise of 9.45 per cent - one of the biggest hikes anywhere in the country
Housing benefit reforms: a huge gamble on rent cuts
12 January, 2012
The government's hope that the cut in housing benefit will result in landlords lowering their rents could backfire.
Number 10 defends PM's private rents claim
12 January, 2012
Number 10 has defended the prime minister's claim that private rents are falling as a result of the coalition government's welfare reforms
LIN member report - How landlords can make use of and contribute to a national tenant database
11 January, 2012
This LIN member report is written by Lorna Stevens, Founder-Director, TenantID and Claire Turner, Director, London Residential Landlord Information Network
Mendip District Council sets up lettings agency
11 January, 2012
Mendip District Council is to set up a not-for-profit lettings agency which will guarantee rent to private landlords for tenants receiving benefits
Private rents down for first time since January
16 December, 2011
Private rents in England and Wales fell for the first time in 10 months in November, according to the latest buy-to-let index from LSL
labour market shows signs of stabilising
14 December, 2011
The rise in the number claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) shows signs of slowing - up 3,000 this month to 1.6 million
Council cuts: the Manhattanisation of central London
13 December, 2011
Westminster's proposed 'civic contract' foreshadows increasing social inequality in the capital
Tenants risk homes to pay for Christmas
12 December, 2011
Around 280,000 people in Scotland could be risking their homes to pay for Christmas, according to research
Landlords Urged to Report Rents to Local Valuation Office
12 December, 2011
Landlords are being encouraged to report the level of rent on their properties to the VOA to help LA's determine average market rents in their area
Debt advice could save landlords £50 million
05 December, 2011
Housing associations should invest in debt advice programmes to avoid evictions and tackle homelessness, a new study claims
Grant Shapps hails progress towards decent social homes
30 November, 2011
CLG have hailed the rapid and impressive progress that has been made to improve the nation's social housing stock
Arrears continue to fall and repossessions remain stable in the third quarter
10 November, 2011
The number of properties taken into possession by mortgage lenders in the 3rd quarter of 2011 was 9,200, virtually unchanged from the previous quarter
Landlord sees arrears drop by £0.5m with rent reward scheme
03 November, 2011
A resident reward scheme introduced by Orbit Heart of England HA has contributed to a £0.5 million reduction in rent arrears among residents
Benefits cut for offenders could rise to £25
29 October, 2011
The maximum amount that people on benefit can have docked to pay fines will increase to £25 a week, the government has said
Rent rises hit home
13 October, 2011
Shelter research reveals ordinary working families face unaffordable private rents in 55% of local authorities in England
Financial advice services pay for themselves in arrears savings
22 September, 2011
Hyde's financial inclusion project slashed arrears and made major cost benefit savings for the landlord
LIN welcomes direct payment pilots but remains concerned over the lack of tenant choice
19 September, 2011
London Residential Landlord Information Network press release
Lord Freud: direct payment of housing benefit will end if arrears spiral
14 September, 2011
Government plans will protect social landlords from tenants who fail to pay their rent under universal credit
Top tips: the financial impact of welfare reform
10 September, 2011
What impact will the government's welfare reforms have on local government finance?
Grant Shapps responds to judge's ruling on squatters rights
06 September, 2011
Housing Minister Grant Shapps responds to judge's ruling ordering a London council to publish a list of empty homes in their area
Fact sheet: Gaining possession of a privately rented property let on an assured shorthold tenancy
03 September, 2011
This fact sheet has been prepared for landlords who wish to gain possession of a privately rented property let on an assured shorthold tenancy
Mortgage and landlord possession statistics
15 August, 2011
Quarterly National Statistics on possession actions issued in county courts by mortgage lenders and social and private landlords
Tenants' deposits
10 August, 2011
This note explains the requirement on landlords to place certain tenants' deposits in a statutory tenants' deposit scheme.
A new mandatory power of possession for anti-social behaviour
03 August, 2011
CLG consultation. Closing date for responses 7 November 2011
Rent levels rise amid shortage of homes
13 July, 2011
A shortage of homes to let has forced rent levels higher and further increased the squeeze on cash-strapped consumers according to ARLA
Focus report: Homelessness
06 July, 2011
Local Government Ombudsman highlights councils failings over legal duties to homeless people
Eric Pickles warns David Cameron of rise in homeless families risk
04 July, 2011
A leaked letter, from the office of Eric Pickles has warned that welfare reform will make 40,000 more families homeless
Table of Councils decreasing Local Housing Allowance rates
30 June, 2011
Based on the new LHA rates from April 2011
Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP)
29 June, 2011
Everything tenants and landlords need to know in order to make a successful claim for a Discretionary Housing Payment. Member report by Claire Turner, Director, LIN
UK Housing review June 2011
21 June, 2011
Chartered Institute of Housing report by Hal Pawson and Steve Wilcox
Worrying times ahead for homeless in England
20 April, 2011
Homeless link research indicates that cuts are already hitting homelessness services
A New Approach to Banking
01 April, 2011
Extending the use of Jam Jar Accounts in the UK - a report by Social Finance
Raising the annual rental threshold for assured and assured shorthold tenancies
01 October, 2025
Frequently asked questions