Council Becomes First To Use New Anti-Social Powers To Evict Tenants

Oldham Council is believed to have become the first local authority in the country to use new anti-social behaviour powers to remove tenants from a property, after it was used as a drugs den.  The new rules came into force recently and mean that ASB incidents can be dealt more swiftly by the courts, leading to quicker evictions. Tameside Magistrates' Court approved a three-month premises closure for the property after community safety officers from social landlord First Choice Homes Oldham and police received numerous complaints from tenants about ASB and criminality. Read more on 24dash.

Pilot Reveals Flaws in Universal Credit Causing Hardship to Tenants

First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) was one of four initial pilots in 2013 to roll out Universal Credit. The organisation has now carried out survey of its tenants who were switched to Universal Credit, and it claims to have found customers facing stark choices over heating or eating. The results show:

·         74% of tenants had not been offered personal budgeting support by the DWP

·         55% of tenants found the period between making their Universal Credit claim and receiving their first payment very difficult.

·         48% of tenants asked did not know they could apply for an advance payment for universal credit

·         37% of tenants did not receive their payment on the same day each month

·         22% said the job centre had not informed them that their rent needed to be paid out of Universal Credit money

·         59% of tenants had not found work since claiming Universal Credit

Read more on the Housing Excellence website.

Universal Credit's Flaws Exposed By Tenants

A North West housing association has said a survey of its tenants has exposed flaws in the government's universal credit (UC) system, with some of those using it forced to turn to pay day lenders to get by. One of four initial pilots in 2013's roll out of UC, First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) found that their tenants had suffered multiple frustrations and complications with the new system, with some saying it had forced them to face "stark choices over heating or eating". However, the DWP has called the survey "misleading" and not reflective of the true situation. Read more on 24dash.