Good morning The House of Commons research team has just published a very informative briefing paper, focused on the government’s proposals to cap the “eligible rents” in both Housing Benefit and Universal Credit (UC) to Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates from April 2019. You can read more, here. You may…

Good morning DWP hierarchy have just issued an updated version of its “Universal Credit – Guidance for Landlords” which you’ll find in the following link http://www.parliament.uk/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/commons/2017-07-10/3962 Much of the information has already been circulated in earlier editions, however, I’ve identified below, some links, with new information, which should be of…

Hi By October 2018, Universal Credit’s “Full” or “Digital” service will be operating throughout Great Britain. At the moment, only a few dozen areas have the full-blown version, which we all hoped would improve on the “limited” service it eventually will replace. Sadly, experience to date suggests the very opposite…

Dear Colleague By October 2018, Universal Credit’s “Full” or “Digital” service will be operating throughout Great Britain. Currently, only a few dozen areas have the full-blown version. Sadly, experience to date suggests the digital version is not yet fit for purpose, but the rollout continues and is gathering pace. Landlords…

Good morning The Scottish Government and CIH Scotland have just published a brief report focused on the very real threat posed by central government’s proposals to cap Housing Benefit and/or the “housing element” of Universal Credit to LHA rates from April 2019. Amongst other things, it suggests 21,000 young Scots…

Good morning The Scottish Government just yesterday announced how its variations to the national UC payment arrangements would operate. The new arrangement, which affect both social & private tenants, became effective from 4th October 2017; can immediately affect “NEW” claims, but only where the claimant lives in an area where…

Good morning In recent weeks, DWP has been trying to defend Universal Credit’s widely recognised structural and administrative flaws, which Social & Private Landlord organisations maintain are causing tenant hardship and significant hikes in rent arrears, due mainly, to: The 7 day waiting period, which applies to some claimants, before…

The Universal Credit (Housing Costs Element aged 18-21) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 – SI 2017/252 – which can be found here were introduced on 2nd March, 2017 and come into effect from 1st April, 2017. Regulations remove automatic entitlement to housing costs in Universal Credit “Full Service” areas for some 18 to…

Good afternoon Shelter Scotland has just published a report Evictions by Social Landlords in Scotland 2012-16 which, amongst other things, confirms there has been an increase in SRS sector evictions (Councils & Housing Associations) and points to the fact, the majority of recovery actions are being pursued, in response to rent…

Lord Freud, Minister for Welfare Reform, announced at yesterday’s Chartered Institute of Housing conference, (https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/direct-payments-system) the Government was anxious to work in collaboration with Social Landlords to protect tenants from the vagaries of rent arrears and safeguard Landlords’ cash-flows. He said, ‘The key to making direct payments work will be…