Sharp Rise In Social Housing Rent Arrears Cases

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. The national charity warned that the dramatic rise in rent arrears and threatened homelessness demonstrates that households are not yet feeling the benefit of the improved economic outlook. The charity suggests says the impact of the under-occupancy penalty, commonly known as the bedroom tax, combined with changes to council tax support, has contributed heavily to rent arrears problems. The North East and West Midlands are the worst hit English regions per head of population and the steepest year-on-year rises were in the East Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber. Read more on 24dash.