Housing Benefit Removal Regulations Upheld By Judges

It is lawful to discriminate against tenants with disabilities by removing their housing benefit if their home is left unoccupied for more than a year, top judges have ruled. Three tenants with mental health issues challenged regulations which say benefits will be withdrawn if their properties are left unoccupied for more than 52 weeks. They all had their benefits stopped under the regulations when they were detained in hospital as a result of their conditions. Their case was first rejected in the Upper Tier Tribunal when judges ruled that while the regulations did discriminate, the discrimination was justified. Read more on Inside Housing.