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The Government has responded to concerns raised by the Work and Pensions Committee about some aspects of its welfare reform proposals, including an obvious lack of clarity in some key areas and a very worrying lack of protection for landlords, especially in relation to “vulnerable” and delinquent tenants. Read its detailed response. http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm85/8537/8537.pdf…

I’m sure you’re already aware that the Local Finance Act November 2012 makes provision for the localisation of a Council Tax Support scheme in England.  In Wales similar provisions have been made for a Council Tax Reduction scheme.  In doing so, the Government has effectively abolished the national Council Tax…

The above headline title sounds a bit like an American election pledge, but it’s perhaps worth reminding those private landlords engaged in providing accommodation to Local Housing Allowance (LHA) tenants tat, even assuming the Coalition Governments meets its ambitious target of abolishing Housing Benefit (HB) by 2017, it will remain…

LGO report – maladministration found – compensation agreed of £1800 – LGO criticises council for its mishandling of the landlord’s complaint Download Full Report…

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LGO report – maladministration agreed – compensation paid – council found to have paid HB wrongly to tenant. Download Full Report…

Access to some of the content of this page is limited to members of the site. If you are already…

The Residential Landlords Association has just published an article which I prepared. It focuses on the issue of HB Overpayments, and, the oftentimes, overzealous attempts by Council Housing Benefit sections to recover large sums of money, sometimes many thousands of £’s, directly from landlords. In the case highlighted £22K was involved. Nationally,…

The Residentail Landlords Association has just published an article which should interest your finance and rent accounting staff. It focuses on the issue of HB Overpayments, and, the oftentimes, overzealous attempts by Council Housing Benefit sections to recover large sums of money, sometimes many thousands of £’s, directly from landlords. In the…

Supporting Frontline staff As we draw nearer to the introduction of Universal Credit you will find there will be a glut of new guidance issued by the DWP to explain how the roll-out of UC will affect the way your frontline staff interact with tenants; deal with the demands of making digital claims,…

I was explaining to you on Thursday just how farsical the “Pathfinder” exercise was becoming and used the analogy of the Willy Wonka “Golden Ticket”. The following day the Government announced: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21972026 “However, the department now says this pilot programme will start only in one area in April – Ashton-under-Lyne.…

The DWP today released its latest version of the Discretionary Housing Payments Guidance Manual which comes into effect from 1st April 2013. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/discretionary-housing-payments-guide.pdf This latest version also includes a “Good Practice” guide with various examples of how the funds can be used. Staff assisting tenants who are considering ways to…