Restore Lifetime Tenancies To Vulnerable Tenants, Say Peers

Ministers are being urged to give councils and housing associations back the right to offer lifetime tenancies to those they consider vulnerable. Peers are debating the issue of lifetime tenancies for those in social housing, which started to be phased out by David Cameron's Tory government. They will consider proposals to restore lifetime housing rights to those who have suffered domestic abuse. Council bosses want this to go further and cover other vulnerable tenants. These may be people with mental illness or disabilities. Read more on the BBC website.

Peers Demand Halt to Benefit Cuts

Liberal Democrat peers have called for there to be no fresh welfare cuts before the next general election. Lord Archie Kirkwood said he was concerned that nobody has analysed the ‘cumulative effect’ of the government’s welfare reforms.  He said: ‘These cuts now have to stop… Anything else would be to risk poverty and deprivation on a scale that we underestimate at our peril.’ Fellow Liberal Democrat Lord Michael German said the bill takes a ‘sensible approach’ given budget restraints. However, Lord German added: ‘I hope that the bill puts to an end any further reductions in the welfare budget before the next general election.’  Read more on Inside Housing.