Government’s Housing Plans Are A Crisis Waiting To Happen

Government plans to scrap ‘no fault’ evictions, reiterated in the Queen’s Speech, will dramatically increase the risk faced by private landlords and lead to the loss of thousands of homes in the private rented sector, the National Landlords Association (NLA) has warned. The NLA, which represents 42,000 members, urged the Government to avoid creating an unnecessary crisis in the private rented sector by ensuring that reform of the court process is implemented alongside any change to tenancy legislation. Read why a crisis will occur on the NLA website.

https://landlords.org.uk/news-campaigns/news/governments-housing-plans-are-crisis-waiting-happen

Government U-Turns On 18-21s Housing Benefit Cut

In a written statement to parliament Esther McVey, work and pensions secretary, announced the government would “amend regulations so that all 18 to 21-year-olds will be entitled to claim support for housing costs in Universal Credit”. She added: “Currently, 18 to 21-year-olds who make a new claim to Universal Credit in full-service areas need to meet certain requirements to receive housing support. The change I am announcing today means that young people on benefits will be assured that if they secure a tenancy, they will have support towards their housing costs in the normal way.” Read more on Inside Housing.

https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:vdFosyLjpTkJ:https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/government-u-turns-on-18-21s-housing-benefit-cut-55563+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&safe=vss

YMCA Wants Housing Support Back For 18 To 21-Year-Olds

A new government must abolish regulations that remove automatic entitlement to housing support for 18 to 21-year-olds, says the YMCA. It’s ‘Youth First’ manifesto brings together more than 40 recommendations including access to housing. Other priorities include:

·         Invest in early intervention mental health services for young people in schools and communities, including targeted campaigns that addresses the lack of knowledge and stigma surrounding mental health difficulties

·         Ensure all students in school or college have access to careers information, advice and guidance delivered by professional specialists

·         Reclassify youth services as a statutory service, which will require each local authority to have in a place a youth services strategy.

Read more on the YMCA website.

Tory MP Warns Theresa May Against ‘Catastrophic’ Housing Benefit Cuts To Under-22s

Theresa May is facing a potential backbench revolt over housing benefit cuts after one Tory branded the changes as “catastrophic”. David Burrowes, Conservative MP for Enfield Southgate, warned that the decision to scrap the benefit for under-22s would “pull the housing rug from vulnerable young people.” While the measure was part of the Tory’s 2015 manifesto, charities and campaigners had hoped the change of Prime Minister last year meant the plans would be scrapped. Labour branded the cuts as “disgraceful”, and today Burrowes called on the Government to rethink the policy. He told Huff Post UK: “The changes planned for April should await the outcome of the supported housing consultation. Read more on the Huffington Post website.

Time To Drop The ‘Hated’ Ban On Housing Benefit For 18-21s

Reports suggest Ministers are looking again at controversial plans to bar 18-21s from claiming housing benefit. The current government inherited highly risky plans to prevent younger people receiving housing support under Universal Credit, with the ban due to take effect in a little over four weeks. There are many reasons why a small number of young people in challenging situations may be unable to live at home and need support from the benefit system to keep a roof over their head. Housing benefit can be a vital lifeline for those escaping violence, abuse, estrangement or bereavement.Sources admit that the current crop of Ministers and their civil servants “hate the policy” but feel unable to abandon it entirely because it is a manifesto commitment. Read more on the Shelter blog.

Universal Credit: Housing Benefit – Parliamentary Written Answer

John Healey:  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants he estimates will be affected by the removal of the housing costs element of universal credit from 18 to 21-year-olds in each local authority area; what the estimated savings will be of that removal in each of those areas; and if he will place in the Library the working and modelling on which those estimates are based.

Caroline Nokes: The Department expects that around 10,000 people would be affected, saving an estimated £95 million over the course of the current Parliament. The Department does not hold a breakdown for each local authority area.

Universal Credit: Housing Benefit – Parliamentary Written Answer

Dr Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the estimated average annual cost to the public purse will be of removing the housing benefit element of universal credit from 18 to 21 year-olds.

Caroline Nokes: Current estimates suggest that the removal of the housing costs element of universal credit from 18 to 21 year olds will save £95 million over the course of the current Parliament.

Benefits To Cover Rent For 18–21 Year Olds

The Social Security Advisory Committee has published details of the Government’s policy to cover housing costs for young people aged 18–21. Subject to exceptions, any 18–21 year-old who makes a new claim for Universal Credit in a full service area from 1 April 2017 will not have any housing costs included in their assessment.  The fact that this measure is limited to the full service Universal Credit areas will limit the number of people affected initially but the policy will impact gradually across the country as the full service is rolled out.  Read more on the NHF website.

Housing Benefit: Young People – Parliamentary Written Answer

Graham Jones: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the savings to the public purse which will accrue from changes in housing benefit for people under 21 years of age.

Mr David Gauke: The Government is ending automatic entitlement to the housing element of Universal Credit – which is gradually replacing Housing Benefit - for out-of-work 18-21 years olds. This is forecast to save £100m over this Parliament.

Landlords Reluctant To Rent To Young People Denied Housing Benefit

The Government’s proposal to abolish housing benefit for those aged 18 to 21 will make it far more difficult for them to rent a home, according to the Residential Landlords Association (RLA). In a survey of over 1,000 landlords, the organisation found that 76% will be reluctant to rent accommodation to this age group once it comes into effect in April, because they fear they may not have enough money to pay the rent. The survey also showed the “devastating effects” of the Government’s planned benefit cap, with over 65% of landlords being reluctant to let properties to tenants who are of working age and on benefits because the cap might affect their ability to meet rent costs. Furthermore, the RLA said its data showed that those under 35 may also face problems accessing rented accommodation. Read more on the RLA website.

Housing Benefit: Young People – Parliamentary Written Answer

Chris Law:  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he will publish draft regulations on housing benefit for 18-21 year olds.

Justin Tomlinson: Removal of automatic housing support for 18 – 21 year olds, announced in the Summer Budget 2015, will be introduced in April 2017. The Department is liaising with a range of key stakeholders as we develop the detail of the policy and once this work is complete we will bring forward detailed proposals.

Why Social Landlords Are Knocking On Doors To Help Young Tenants Find Jobs

Housing associations have a long tradition of helping tenants into work. But government plans, announced in the July budget, to scrap housing benefit for unemployed 18-21 year olds, have created a new urgency to support young people in their job quests. Most offer much more than a job-finding service; as well as identifying and motivating their young jobless tenants, schemes such as Circle’s Routes 2 Work programme provide training in basic employability skills and many continue to provide support once tenants are in work. Circle offers apprenticeships in its own organisation and through partnerships with others. Its procurement process requires potential suppliers to offer apprenticeships or work experience, often in construction but also in sectors such as law. Read more on the Guardian website.

How Do Young People In Britain Become Homeless?

An in-depth study of youth homelessness reveals that violence, neglect and abuse are the main reasons for 16-25 year olds leaving home. The new research by the charity Centrepoint found that violence, abuse and neglect has driven 67 per cent of homeless people aged 16 to 25 away from home, up to 38 per cent of whom are being actively forced out by their parents. Meanwhile 23 per cent dealt with daily arguments and 21 per cent believed the level of violence at home left them with no option but to leave for their own safety. Centrepoint also says the decision to cut housing benefits for 18 to 21-year-olds will mean those forced to leave their family home face an even more uncertain future. Read more on the Centrepoint website.

Housing Benefit: Withdrawing Entitlement from 18-21 Year Olds

The Government intends to withdraw Housing Benefit entitlement from some 18-21 year olds from April 2017. This briefing considers evidence on the potential impact of withdrawal and provides comment from organisations and those working with young homeless people. Download the briefing from the Parliament website.

The Budget: Housing Changes

From April 2017, those out of work between the ages of 18 and 21 will not be automatically entitled to claim housing benefit. Parents whose children live with them will be excluded from this measure. Vulnerable groups will also be excluded, as will claimants who have been in continuous work for the preceding six months. As many as 300,000 fewer people are expected to be eligible for Universal Credit as a result of the changes. Higher earners will have to pay more in rent for social housing. Those earning more than £30,000 (£40,000 in London) will have to make a bigger contribution if they live in council or housing association property. However, for everybody, rents will be reduced by 1% a year for four years from 2016. Read more on the BBC website.

Housing Benefit Cuts for Under-21s Would Be Disastrous

How will George Osborne cut £12bn from the welfare bill? It’s looking increasingly likely that plans to remove housing benefit from 18- to 21-year-olds who are unemployed and claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance will be form part of it. From more than four decades of experience supporting homeless young people, we know that the vast majority of young people who claim housing benefit do so as a lifeline at a time of crisis, not as a lifestyle choice. Among these young people are care leavers who have no home to return to and individuals who have fled domestic violence. Then there are those who have left home to find work and claim housing benefit to bridge the gap between their wages and ever-increasing rents. Read more on the Guardian website.

Housing Benefit: Young People – Parliamentary Written Answer

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants of housing benefit are 18 to 21 years old; and how much his Department spent in each of the last three years on housing benefit for 18 to 21 year olds.

Steve Webb: At August 2014, the latest period for which data is available, there were 115,935 Housing Benefit claimants aged 18 to 21.

Conservative Conference 2014: Housing Roundup

Catch up with the most important housing stories to emerge from the Conservative conference 2014 with our at-a-glance roundup.

·         100,000 discount new homes for first-time buyers

·         Working-age benefits would be frozen until 2017

·         Benefit cap to be cut to £23,000

·         Rent-to-buy fund announced

·         Housing benefit scrapped for 18- to 21-year-olds

·         Prepaid benefit cards to replace cash

Read details of all the above on the Guardian website.