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Lord Freud's message to Landlords - Don't be afraid!

Hi, In recent months, landlords have expressed increasing concern over the introduction of Universal Credit but, argues Lord David Freud, the changes he’s promoting should actually make their lives easier. In an interview with Inside Housing he sends out a message to landlords – “Don’t be afraid”! http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/home/blogs/don%E2%80%99t-be-afraid/7002258.article So will…

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Universal Credit - DWP publish advice for landlords

Hi DWP has just published a Landlords’ booklet, which adopts a Q & A format, designed to explain to Landlords all of the key issues in relation to Universal Credit. Although the publication is new, most, if not all of the information, has previously been provided in documents like Landlords Managed Payments (see http://www.ucadvice.co.uk/housing-associations/2013/11/dwp-pubish—landlords-managed-payments-of-uc-housing-elelment)…

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Find out how much your council(s) spent on DHPs to November 2013?

Good morning, The Scottish Government yesterday released a bulletin, based on Discretionary Housing Payment spending (DHPs) in Scotland between 1st April and 30th November 2013. The bulletin provides information on the number of DHP applications, decisions and awards. It also gives the total value of DHP awards through to 30…

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Housing Benefit (LHA) Suspension, Cancellation and associated rent arrears

Hi, The Chartered Institute of Housing’s in-house magazine “Inside Housing” recently reported on a scandal that’s been developing over the past year, in particular, caused by a mixture of DWP/Council maladministration and some of the welfare reform measures. http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/finance/‘unintended’-housing-benefit-cuts-hit-tenants/7001667.article In the article, reference was made to: “The number of sanctions…

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Universal Credit & Housing Benefit - Ever-changing environment.

Hi, As we start the new year, Universal Credit delivery is being extended to another 6 Pathfinder sites. The “claimant commitment” and associated “benefit sanctions” are being rolled out to all 20,000 Job Centres, and are already creating major problems for both tenants and landlords alike. Making benefit claims, using digital services,…

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Bedroom Tax - Potential Loophole alert!

Hi, In recent weeks there has been much debate on welfare rights discussion forums about a potential “Bedroom Tax” loophole affecting tenancies created before 1st January 1996. Apparently, the case for challenge was first identified by a first-tier tribunal judge and has since been applied in other cases. DWP has…

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Housing Credit for Pensioners Delayed until 2017/18

Hi, In a bulletin to “stakeholder members” prompted by the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, the DWP have confirmed that the introduction of “Housing Credit” originally planned for October 2014 has been put “on hold” and will not be introduced until at least 2017/18. The announcement is not at all surprising as Ministers like…

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Bedroom Tax - When is a bedroom NOT a bedroom?

If you examine Twitter and the various Welfare Reform websites you’ll find there has been quite a bit of recent success achieved on the Tribunal front, by Social Landlord tenants. Much of the focus has been on Scotland in this regard and the decisions made by Judge Simon Collins QC. Although…

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